Reverend Charles “Dean” Brown, age 97, of Clay City, Illinois, passed away Monday, January 5, 2026, at Clay County Hospital.

      He was born July 11, 1928, in Clay City, the son of Elmer and Winnie (Sparling) Brown.  He was united in marriage to Shirley Bush on December 7, 1957, at South Muddy Church, and together they shared 68 years of marriage marked by love and devotion.

      With Shirley by his side, Dean devoted over 45 years to ministry in the United Methodist Church across Southern Illinois.  He found great joy in ministering to and visiting with his parishioners, spending time with family and friends, and playing with his grandchildren.  He enjoyed hunting in his younger years and cherished the many peaceful hours he spent fishing.

      He is survived by his wife: Shirley Brown of Clay City; 3 children: Kenneth (Kim) Brown of Oceanside, California, Gary (Ginny) Brown of Mt. Carmel, and Mona (Rob) Finley of Sullivan, Indiana; 6 grandchildren: Mallory (Chuck) Parr of Mt. Carmel, Emily (Mitch) Kocher of Olney, Lindsey Dezelan (Matt Danielson) of Escondido, California, Kaylyn (Chris) Wardell of Sullivan, Indiana, Camron Finley of Sullivan, Indiana, and Caleb (Shoko) Finley of Tokyo, Japan; great-grandchildren: Claudia, Camilla, Khloye, Amelia, Emette, Anne, Ray, Vaida, Henry, Andrew, along with another great-grandson on-the-way.

      He was preceded in passing by his parents; 5 brothers: Grant (Anita) Brown, Harvey (Janet) Brown, Steven (Dorothy) Brown, Paul (Dorothy) Brown, and Norman (Virginia) Neustedt; sisters: Juanita (Delbert) Hilderbrand, Zella (Ed) Austin, Doris (Morris) Cookson, Peg (Virgil) Hasler, Evelyn (Vonley) Elmore, and Noma Ingeldsen; a brother-in-law: John Bush Sr.; a sister-in-law: Neva (Mike) Cilfone; and many nieces and nephews.

      A funeral ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora.  Interment will follow in South Muddy Cemetery, rural Jasper County (4 miles north of Ingraham on North 250^th.)  A visitation will be held from 10 until 11 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home.  Memorial donations are suggested to the donor’s choice of Cunningham Children’s Home, Clay City Fellowship Church, or Preachers Aid Society and Benefit Fund , and these will be accepted at the funeral home.  To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com    

 

South Muddy Cemetery map: