Doreen (Ballinger) Brown, 70, of Girard, Kan., passed away March 4, 2023, at St. Luke's East Hospital in Lee's Summit, Mo., after several years of illness.
She married Johnnie Brown, of Girard, on Aug. 12, 1979, in Fort Scott, Kan. Doreen was born March 23, 1952, to Russell and Genevieve (Close) Ballinger at Vassar Hospital in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Her family lived in an apartment above her grandparents' home overlooking the Hudson River. In the summer of 1959, Doreen and her family moved to Fort Scott. Doreen attended Eugene Ware Elementary School in Fort Scott and graduated from Fort Scott High School and Fort Scott Community College. She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education (with emphasis in special education) and a master's degree in special education, both from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan. She also did extensive post-master's degree study in the areas of elementary education, special education, and early childhood education at PSU. Doreen was a devoted teacher and had a lifelong love for learning. She was the remedial reading teacher at R-7 School District in Webb City, Mo., 1975-76; trainable classroom teacher for USD 234 in Fort Scott, 1976-79; interrelated classroom teacher for children in grades K-5 with special needs for SEK Special Education Cooperative in Pittsburg, 1979-86; program director for Project Safety Care after-school program for USD 248 in Girard, 1994-95; program director for Family Resource Center child care services in Pittsburg, 1995-98; supervisor for Haderlein Safety Care after-school program for USD 248, 1998-2011; lead teacher for the At-Risk Preschool Program for 4-year-olds at Haderlein Elementary School through Southeast Education Service Center at Greenbush, 1999-2009; and substitute teacher for USD 248 for numerous years. Doreen volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America for several years, serving in roles that included Cub Scout den leader, Girl Scout troop leader, and Girard Twilight Camp director. Doreen liked to collect elephants and cookbooks. She enjoyed trying new recipes, going to the casino, shopping for her grandchildren, and flower gardening. Recently, she enjoyed learning Spanish alongside her granddaughter Jayne. She also was a compassionate animal lover. Doreen's world centered on her family. She was especially proud of her children for being caring adults and loving parents.
She is survived by her husband, Johnnie, of the home; son Casey Brown (Amber), of Girard; daughter, Lindsay Pitts (Bryan), of Arma, Kan.; grandchildren Jayne Pitts and Jillian, Calvin, Oliver, and Theodore Brown; brothers Russell Ballinger Jr. (Margaret), of Champlin, Minn., and Larry Ballinger (Radonna), of Pittsburg; sister Lisa Goddard (Steve), of Fort Scott; brother-in-law Ronald Brown, of Pittsburg; sister-in-law Becky Cobb (Joe), of Girard; nieces Nichole Daly and Allysa Park, both of Fort Scott, Jenna Vitt (Jason), of Pittsburg, and Brandy Hydro, of Leavenworth; nephews John Ballinger (Chrissy) and Corey Ballinger, both of Minneapolis, Minn., Aaron Daly (Jessica) and Jordan Goddard (Ashlei), both of Fort Scott, Justin Daly (Allison), of Oronogo, Mo., and Cooper Brown (fiancee Lindsey Fox) and Jace Cobb (Jessica), both of Pittsburg; numerous cousins in New York and Kansas; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; and longtime best friend Jan Biles, of Lawrence, Kan.
She was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law Johnnie and Lois Brown; sister-in-law Tina Brown; and nephew Joel Daly.
Following cremation, a visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Services in Girard. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 17, at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Girard Cemetery at a later date. Memorials can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in memory of Joel Daly or an education fund set up for her grandchildren, both in care of Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Services, 518 W. St. John St., Girard, KS, 66743.
