Launa Jean (Sinclair) Brinley, 84, of Hillsboro died Jan. 31, 2025, at Scenic Nursing and Rehab Center in Herculaneum. Mrs. Brinley was a 1958 graduate of Potosi High School and a longtime employee at Public Water Supply District 7, where she retired as manager. She was a member of Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church where she served for decades as a worship leader, leading the congregation in a wide array of classic hymns and songs. She also led annual Christmas and Easter choir programs. Her true passion was children’s ministry where she served as a teacher in Sunday School, Children’s Church, Vacation Bible School and Good News Club. She loved family time, laughing and having fun. She enjoyed playing board games with family and friends. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and loved having overnight sleepovers, sharing stories, songs and movies, going on trips to McDonald’s and flying kites in the backyard. She loved a good shopping trip with her close friend, Judy, and the annual Black Friday shopping with her daughters and granddaughters. She will be remembered for her kindness, good humor, Christian values and sense of joy. Born Dec. 26, 1940, in St. Louis, she was the daughter of the late Gladys (Jobe) and Vernon Sinclair.
She was preceded in death by her husband of more than 61 years: Eddie “Ed” Brinley, whom she married in 1962 at Pleasant Hill Christian Church in Potosi; three children: Angela (Joe) Tyron of Carolina Beach, Dianna (Keith) Perren of Ware and Mark (Christine) Brinley of Imperial; eight grandchildren: Katelyn (Matt) Bilin, Nathan (Lauren) Tyron, Madelyn (Austin) Wilfong, Hannah (Matt) Pierce, Jaclyn (Joe) Thomas, Morgan Brinley, Zachary (Bailee) Perren and Graham Brinley; seven great-grandchildren: Jameson, Juno, Grayson, Autumn, Idun, Mara and Kenna; a brother: John (Linda) Sinclair of Catawissa; and many other family members and friends.
Visitation is scheduled from 9 a.m. until a funeral service at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church, 11441 Ware Church Road, in Hillsboro. Burial will be in Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org/get-involved-now/donate. Arrangements are under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home in De Soto.