Lillian Brown

Lillian H. Brown, of Centralia, KS died Thursday morning at the Onaga Community Hospital in Onaga, KS. She was a 101 years of age.

Lillian was born July 12, 1908 the daughter of James Horalek and Barbara Vejvoda- Horalek in Elba, NE. She attended school in Elba until the family moved to Marshall County, KS. She continued her education in the Irving, KS schools and graduated in 1926. She received her teaching certificate after completing normal training at the Irving High school following graduation and was an elementary school teacher for two years. Following that, she moved to Centralia, KS where she worked in her brother Will Horalek's women's clothing store, Horalek's for the next 66 years.

Lillian married Lt. Kenneth R. Brown, U.S. Army, in 1943. When Kenneth returned to Centralia following the war, they bought the Centralia Telephone Exchange. They owned and operated that business until they sold it.

Lillian, also known as Nanny, was a member of the United Methodist Church in Centralia, KS, The United Methodist Women. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for 83 years in Centralia and then in Marysville following the groups transfer to Marysville; the Centralia Booster Club and a local bridge club.

She is survived by a Sister Evelyn Hannon of Topeka, KS; a niece Joyce DeBord of Centralia, great nephews, Brete and Joan DeBord of Topeka, KS and Blake and Brenda DeBord of Manhattan; other nieces and nephews, Barbara Hilpman of Lawrence, KS; Sonja Hensley of Manhattan, KS; Carolyn Moyer of Manhattan, KS; Phyllis Marshall of Prescott, AZ; Sheri Knaub of Las Vegas, NV; Marvin Horalek of Frankfort, KS, Roger Warren of Olathe, KS and several other great, great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Kenneth; siblings William Horalek, Frank Horalek, Jim Horalek Emil Horalek, and a sister Alice Cottrell; nephew John Cottrell and a great niece Mary Margaret DeBord.

Funeral services for Lillian will be Monday at 10:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Centralia. A visitation will be from 9:00 Am until the service time at the church. Burial will be in the Centralia Cemetery. Lillian will lie in state all day Sunday at the Hayes-Popkess Funeral Home in Centralia, KS.

Memorials are being left to the United Methodist Church, Centralia EMT's or the Eastridge Care Home all of Centralia.