Betty Jane Crain

Betty Jane (Parker) Crain Betty Jane (Parker) Crain was born on July 28, 1925, in Chillicothe, MO. She was the fourth child of George Leslie and Eula Mae (Brown) Parker. Betty was a very active and popular child and attended Garrison School, where she participated in music and sports and excelled academically. In 1943, she graduated from Garrison School as Salutatorian of her high school class. Upon graduation Betty had an opportunity to study music in Chicago, but chose not to do so. That same year, she married Clarence Martin Brown, Sr, and to that union four children were born. Betty was active in her church, including sharing her beautiful voice by singing in the choir, but focused her time on raising her children. In 1950, Betty married Charles Allen Crain, Sr, and to that union five children were born. Charles was the love of her life and they were married for 64 years. During their courtship, he would write her love letters in Morse Code - a skill he had learned as a radio operator during WWII. In addition to her own family, Betty also provided care for several elder family members, by making and delivering meals and ensuring that their daily needs were met. There was not much time left after taking care of her own and her extended family's needs, but in her spare time, Betty enjoyed reading, writing funny poetry and sewing. Her sewing activities included everything from curtains to dresses to jumpsuits. She also enjoyed crocheting, needlepoint and other arts and craft projects. She really enjoyed her was romance novels and magazines and always had one or two next to her favorite spot on the couch. That spot was also good for watching her favorite soap operas. Although she was around it all of her life, in her later years, Betty decided that she would start fishing -instead of just watching her husband, Charles, have all of the fun. After that, she kept her pole and tackle box handy for any opportunity to go to one of the local fishing holes. She became very good and rarely came home without a fish or two in her bucket. As her children all grew to adulthood, she also enjoyed the role of grandma' and decorated every nook and cranny of her house with pictures and memorabilia from children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Overtime, all of the grandchildren learned that grandma Crain was specialwith her sometimes-gruff exterior, quick wit and tender heart. There is no doubt that, among all her gifts, Betty prided herself most on the job she did in raising her children. She even once said, "I never really knew what was my special talent. I guess it was being a mother - I was pretty good at that." That is an understatement; she was so good at being a mother (and spreading her love equally among her children) that each of her nine children grew up believing that he/she was not only special, but also the favorite child in the family. Not everyone has the ability to build that kind of a loving bond, but Betty definitely had it. Betty is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sister (Francis Lee Parker and Lorraine (Parker) Pettigrew), two brothers (George Leslie Parker and Hubert Zaniphan Parker), and one son (Michael Anthony Browne). She is survived by one sister, Marjorie (Parker) Nash, Sacramento, CA; three daughters, Pamela (Victor) Pasley, Sunrise Beach, MO, Shelly Crain, Elgin, IL, and Marcia Henderson, Elgin, IL; and five sons, Clarence Brown, St. Paul, MN, Steven (Cheryl) Brown, Tulsa, OK, Charles (Patrice) Crain, Jr, Denver, CO, Gregory Crain, Chillicothe, MO, and Rodney (Gina) Crain, Austin, TX; 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and a host of nephews, nieces and cousins. Funeral services will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Saturday, November 7, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. A scheduled family visitation will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Saturday, November 7, 2015, one hour prior to the service at 1:00 p.m. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Friday, November 6, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bethel AME Church and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.