Darla K. Brown, 79 of Aledo, died Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Unity Point, Trinity Hospital, Rock Island, Illinois. Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, March 30, at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo Visitation is prior to services, from 4 to 6 p.m. Private family burial will be in Aledo Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Darla Kay was born on October 17, 1946, in Aledo, Illinois, to Ralph and Ruth (Brownlee) Hill. She was previously married to William Norton. On September 24, 1983, Darla and William Brown were married at the Aledo Baptist Church.
Darla began her working career with Martin Title Company, later working for the Mercer County Title Company until retirement. Darla was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, opening her home for pool parties, family get-togethers, and daily visits. Traveling with family, especially to Tennessee and Chicago Cubs games were personal favorites. In her spare time, she enjoyed golfing and playing scrabble, when she wasn’t attending grandchildren’s events.
Those left to cherish Darla’s memory include her husband, Bill; daughter and son-in-law, Denise and Ed Lower; step-daughter, Amy and Rick Pierce; grandchildren, Jacob and Kat Lower and children, Emma, Iris, and Lilah; Zane Lower; Lucas Lower and Ty Cook, and Kaylee and Mason Weeks and daughter, Vivienne and one lovingly expected; step-grandson, Jimmy and Cheyanne Kyzer and daughters, Brynlee and Nichole; and a sister-in-law, Barb Hill. Darla was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Ralph Hill, Jr.; and sisters, Rita Haizlip and Sandra Matthews.