Colleen Brigham

(From Parker Mortuary)

Colleen (Brown) Brigham, age 92, died on Tuesday, October 10th at her home, surrounded by family after a short battle with cancer.

Colleen was born in 1931 in Shelton, NE., daughter to Ralph Brown and Helen Marie (Harpham) Brown. Her mother died in 1932 when Colleen was only 16 months old. Ralph married Irene Malcom and together they raised Colleen and her sister Mona. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and attended St. Peters Catholic School and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School. She married Jack Brigham in 1952 in Omaha, Nebraska.

The family moved to Joplin, Missouri in 1970.

She was a floral designer in Joplin for many years. She worked at Higdon’s Florist and Waterman’s Florist and later owned Oriental Gardens.

After raising her family, Colleen returned to college and graduated with a Registered Nurse degree from Crowder College in 1989 at the age of 59 years old. She worked as a Registered Nurse at Oakhill Hospital and Freeman Neosho and retired from nursing in 2008. Colleen was always a caregiver to her family, friends, and neighbors.

In addition to her parents and step mother, Colleen was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Brigham in 2001, her son, Ronald and her sister and best friend Ramona “Mona” (Brown) Brigham.

She is survived by her children, Patricia (Patty) and her husband, Mike Boseck of Webb City, Karen and her husband, Jake Wood of Springfield, Larry and his wife Kelly Brigham of Shawnee, KS., Steve Brigham of Pittsburg, Susan and her husband Dave Warden of Joplin, Peggy and her husband Craig Gilliam of Webb City, Robert Brigham of Carterville, and her unofficially adopted daughter and life time friend, Susie Pinson.

Colleen has 11 grandchildren: Steven Brigham, Ashley (Gilliam) Forgey, Tara Brigham, Adam Gilliam, Brandon Brigham, Katelyn (Brigham) Minton, Sara Brigham, Emily (Brigham) Metzger, Patrick Warden, Ann Warden and Ethan Brigham.

She also has 14 Great Grandchildren: Jackson, Grant, Ryder, Kinley, Harlow, Kooper, Holden, Griffin, Jurnee, Kade, Mila, Jack, Konnor, and Hadley. She has many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Sunday, October 15, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary. Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 16, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary Chapel with burial to follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Parker Mortuary.