Shirley J. Brown

Shirley Jean (Vail) Brown, 80, of Barry, IL, died at 3:37 p.m. Thursday, January 22, 2026, in the Barry Health Care and Senior Living Center as a result of complications from Alzheimer's.

Shirley was born October 16, 1945, in Hannibal, Mo., to Grover Cleveland Vail Sr. and Frances Elouise (Parks) Vail. She married Richard Leo Brown in Quincy. He survives. She later married Michael Smith in Quincy, Illinois. He preceded her in death

Shirley attended a one-room schoolhouse in Palmyra and later graduated from Palmyra High School. She worked a variety of jobs in her lifetime, including Sturhan Jewelers, Wal-Mart, and Dixie Cream Donuts, as a waitress at various Quincy restaurants, and as a cook at Sunset Home and Quincy Public Schools.

She loved animals – especially horses – and was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. She enjoyed painting and drawing and liked to sew. She was very proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was of the Christian faith.

Survivors include four sons, James (Jim) Brown and his wife, Crystal, George Brown, and Joe Brown, all of Quincy, and Eric Wallace and his wife, Sarah, of Jacksonville; two daughters, Lisa Brown and Carey Frick of Quincy; five grandchildren Connor Matthew Brown of Quincy, Renee Nichole Brown of Iowa, and Eric Michael Wallace, Marley Lynne Wallace, and Andrew James Kilby Wallace, all of Jacksonville; and two great-grandchildren, Renee Kirschbaum and Dominic Haffner, both of Iowa.

Survivors also include one nephew, Kyle Vail and his wife, Lora, of Palmyra, Mo.; two nieces, Sonya Lenz and Anita Pfeifer, both of Quincy; and several grand- and great-grandnieces and nephews.

Mrs. Brown was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, Kenneth Dean Vail and Robert Eugene Vail.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Greenwood Cemetery in Palmyra.

Memorials may be made to the family. The Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.