SHELBY – Lelia E. Brown, 93, resident of Shelby, Ohio died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at Crestwood Care Center.
Born Aug. 5, 1918, in Plymouth, Ohio to Perry and Ida (Myers) Preston, she grew up in Plymouth, living the majority of her life in Austintown.
Lelia graduated from Plymouth High School, where she was the class valedictorian.
She attended cosmetology school and was a beautician for many years.
At age 40, she made a career change and attended nursing school in Youngstown, receiving her LPN degree.
She was employed as a labor and delivery nurse at Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
A member of the First Lutheran Church, she was a former member of the Austintown Community United Church of Christ, She enjoyed cooking, crocheting, bird watching and spending time with her family.
Survivors include her daughter, Kathy Booth of Shelby; four grandchildren, David Booth of Columbus, Steven Booth of Brockport, N.Y., Heather (Keith) Austin of Olathe, Kan. and Aimee (Todd) Davis of Lenexa, Kan.; four great-grandchildren, Cooper Austin, William and Alexander Davis and Vivianne Booth; a son-in-law, Bill McLaughlin of Edmonds, Wash.; two sisters-in-law, Lena Preston of Shelby and Mildred Tinstman of Eaton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Brown in 1985; one daughter, Carol McLaughlin in 2007; one brother, Norman Preston; one infant, brother Clarence Preston; and three sisters, Edith Miller, Mable Cruit and Helen Hillborn.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, at the First Lutheran Church. The Reverend Russel Yoak will officiate with interment at Greenlawn Cemetery, Plymouth.
Friends may call at the church Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m.
The Barkdull Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Memorial expressions may be made to the First Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, 33 Broadway St., Shelby, OH 44875, Humane Society of Richland County, 3025 Park Ave. West, Ontario, OH 44906 Visit barkdullfuneralhome.com to send on line condolences