Zelpha Eugenia (Jeanne) Stocklin, 92, of Bradenton, FL, died peacefully at her residence at Westminster Pointe Pleasant on Friday, November 14, 2025. Jeanne was born to the late Clarke and Vesta (Barr) Braden on February 11, 1933, in Alden, KS. The Braden family included Jeanne, her twin sister, Joanne, Jeannete, Barbara, and her brother Billy. Jeanne attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse in Alden KS but graduated from high school at Sterling.
The happy family had moved to Sterling where Clarke now worked as a diesel mechanic for International Harvester, and Vesta was busy sewing clothes and raising her children. Jeanne, having an elegant fashion sense at an early age, worked at the downtown J.C. Penney's store during her high school years.
After her high school graduation, Jeanne, with a dream of becoming a nurse, headed to Wichita KS and began her studies at the former St. Francis School of Nursing. But it was a blind date with one of those McConnell Air Force Base guys that would change Jeanne's Kanas life into one of a world traveler!
That guy, Tiny Stocklin, was smitten with Jeanne and the couple was married on August 18, 1952, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Wichita, with their families and friends in attendance. While in Wichita, the couple's first child, Brenda, was born on the air force base in a makeshift military hospital housed in a Quonset hut in July 1955. The young family was stationed in Texas, Japan, Maryland, and Turkey and enjoyed the military way of life exploring the world. In 1964, the couple's second child, Christopher, was born in Turkey, in a makeshift military hospital within an apartment building in Ankara.
After 22 years of military service, Tiny decided to retire from the Air Force in 1965 and moved his small family to the Hermann, MO area where his mother and many family members lived. Missouri was also close to Kansas, where most of Jeanne's family continued to live. Jeanne settled into small town living again raising her two children, playing golf and bridge, serving on the library board, being a long-time member of the Hermann United Methodist Church and a member of the Eighth Street hill gang! She worked downtown in Hermann, worked at the Hermann Area Hospital and then spent many wonderful years working for the Probate Judge of St. Louis County. While working in Clayton, she lived in a small apartment near the courthouse and travelled home on weekends. Tiny would routinely drive on Wednesday afternoons to eat dinner with her and enjoy big city life.
In 1995, Jeanne and Tiny had now retired; the couple moved to Bradenton, FL and lived in the Country Village community. Jeanne played golf, bridge, majoun, was a member of the Faith United Methodist Church and had many new Florida friends. Many memories were made as Jeanne and Tiny enjoyed the retired Florida lifestyle. Tiny died suddenly in 2004, and Jeanne decided to join and live at the Westminster Pointe Pleasant community in 2006. For almost 20 years, Jeanne continued to enjoy playing bridge and majoun and attending theater and plays, attending church activities and welcoming family and friends to her independent living apartment for fun in the Florida sunshine!
Jeanne was a caring and devoted wife to her husband, Tiny, of 52 years and a kind and generous mother, grandmother, aunt, and cousin to her family. She is survived by her daughter, Brenda Stocklin-Smith and her husband, Jason; her son, Christopher Stocklin and his wife, Carol; two grandchildren, Jordan and Leslie; her first cousin Ann Picklow Conser, many nieces, nephews and cousins and many friends from all the wonderful places she called home. A graveside service, to include family and friends, will be scheduled at a future time at the Swiss Church cemetery.
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209, is in charge of arrangements.
