Brenda Jean Galloway

Brenda Jean Galloway, age 82, of Vandalia, Missouri passed away at 6:10 pm Friday, January 21, 2022, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, January 29, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church in Vandalia with a visitation celebrating Brenda's life from 9:00 am until the time of service. Pastor Rick Watson will officiate. Burial will be in the Vandalia Cemetery following the service.

Due to COVID-19 the family is requiring the use of masks and social distancing. If you wish to livestream the service, it will be broadcast on the church’s Facebook Live page and in the church parking lot via the radio on 89.1FM.

Brenda was born on August 20, 1939, in Saint Louis, the daughter of Arnold and Clara (Ottwell) Shaw. She spent her early life in the St. Louis area before the family moved to Clarksville in 1952 where Brenda attended junior high and high school, graduating from Clopton with the class of 1957. While at Clopton, Brenda played basketball and enjoyed spending time with her friends, several of whom she continued to meet regularly for a meal and conversation until recent months.

Following high school, Brenda spent two years at Culver Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, before transferring to Missouri State Teachers College in Springfield, where she graduated with a degree in Physical Education. She started her career in Mexico, Missouri, after which she moved to Vandalia to teach PE at the high school and, ultimately, to put down roots.

She was united in marriage to Paul E. Galloway on November 6, 1965, in St. Louis. Paul preceded her in death on March 19, 2021.

Brenda was a natural educator and nurturer to her five children and hundreds of students through the years. Her professional teaching career spanned several decades and locations, and it took different forms during her journey, beginning with physical education at Mexico and Vandalia in the ‘60s; 6th grade at St. Clement Catholic School in the ‘80s; 6th grade at Community R-VI in the ‘80s-‘90s; elementary art at Van-Far in the ‘90s-early 2000s; and a broad swath of substituting filling the gaps along the way. Brenda also volunteered as music coordinator/teacher for the combined First Presbyterian and Methodist Churches’ Vacation Bible School for multiple years, and she single-handedly planned, coordinated, financed, and led the Play Day activities during the week of the Vandalia Area Fair each summer for many years as well. Her influence was felt by many and will continue to endure for years.

Brenda enjoyed traveling with Paul on trips with MFA Oil during his tenure on the board of directors. She was a fan of St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and she liked to watch Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs take the field. She loved watching the birds in her yard and had a particular fondness for cardinals.

Brenda was a member of the Vandalia First Presbyterian Church, LaFemme Arts Club, and PEO Chapter CE.

In addition to Paul, Brenda joins her parents, Arnold and Clara Shaw, a son, Darin Galloway, and her sister-in-law, Carolyn Shaw, as well as numerous extended family and friends.

Brenda’s absence will be strongly felt by those she leaves behind: sons, Dane Kent (Debbie Thompson) Galloway of Springfield, Missouri; Tyler Paul (Lori) Galloway of Lenexa, Kansas; and Tad Shaw (Colleen) Galloway of Mexico, Missouri; daughter, Megan Adair (Brian) Snowden of Reeds Spring, Missouri; brother, Terry Shaw of Liberty, Missouri; eleven grandchildren, Tanner, Zachary, Justin, Larin, Darin, Maria, Olivia, Murphy, Elise, Nate, and K.P.; one great grandson, Colin; and many other loved family and friends.

Pallbearers will be Dane Galloway, Tyler Galloway, Tad Galloway, Brian Snowden, Blake Shaw, and Frank Wallace.

Honorary Pallbearers are Terry Shaw, Rich and Jane Duffner, Eric and Ginny Moran, Bobby and Laverne Wright, Annette Conrad, Bill and Maxine Finnerty, and Jim Pitzer.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Vandalia or The King’s Daughters Home, Mexico, Missouri, in care of Waters Funeral Home, P.O. Box 84, Vandalia, Missouri 63382.

Online condolences may be made to the family on Brenda's memorial page at www.watersfuneral.com.