Elmer Junior Brown, 86, Cole Camp, Mo., formerly of Windsor, Mo., died late Tuesday evening, July 31, 2018, at the Good Samaritan Care Center, Cole Camp., Mo.
He was born July 20, 1932, in Cole Camp, Mo., the son of Lawrence Elmer Brown and Lula Fern (Casto) Brown. On May 24, 1957, at the Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Benton County, Mo., he married Gwendolyn Joyce Galloway and she survives of the home in Cole Camp. They shared 61 years of marriage together.
Elmer served as a Corporal in the United States Army from 1951 to 1954 during the Korean Conflict. In the summer of 1955, Elmer accepted the Lord as his personal Savior at a revival at Shady Grove Baptist Church, Benton County. He was ordained as a Deacon in the summer of 1972 at Shady Grove. Later God led him into the ministry and he was licensed to preach in April, 1985 at the Calvary Baptist Church, Windsor. In April 1997, he was ordained as minister at the Black Oak Church, Lincoln, Mo. Collectively he served as a pastor for 36 years. During his ministry he made three trips to Haiti where he fell in love with the Haitian people. He won many souls to the Lord. In addition to ministry, he also worked at the International Shoe Factory in Windsor for 30 years, at U.S. Safety in Windsor for 7 years as an electrician; and was the owner and operator of Windsor Electric for many years. He was a member of Black Oak Church and was handy at fixing nearly anything. He also enjoyed quilting and gardening.
In addition to his wife, Joyce, survivors include 3 daughters, Jeannie Neidholdt (David), Bella Vista, Arkansas; Mitzi Mullins (Michael), Green Ridge, Mo.; and Reba Matlock (Jim), Lenexa, Kansas; 6 grandchildren, Bonnie Neidholdt-Rager, Kathie Neidholdt-Yamaji, Michael Mullins Jr., Ethan Mullins, Mikiah Mullins, and Zoee Matlock; 15 great-grandchildren; 3 brothers, Bennie Brown, Palo, Mo., Harold Brown, Lincoln, Mo., and George Brown, Lincoln, Mo.; a sister, Juanita Ferguson, Windsor, Mo.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Penelope Yamaji.
Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, August 4, 2018, at the Hadley Funeral Home, Windsor, with Rev. Mike Galloway officiating. Burial will be in the Black Oak Cemetery, rural Lincoln, Mo. The family will receive friends before the service from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The family suggests contributions to the Black Oak Church in care of the funeral home.