Brenda Kay Blain, age 64, Branson, Missouri

Brenda Kay Blain was welcomed home by our Lord and Savior on January 24, 2024, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 64. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 29, 1959, to Patricia Blain and the late Harold Blain. Brenda's life was characterized by love of the Lord, her family, determination to advance and succeed in the medical field, and caring for her patients.

Raised in Overland Park, Kansas, her family relocated to Springfield, Missouri in 1973. She graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1977. Brenda received her Bachelor’s Degree at Southwest Missouri State University and graduated from St. John's School of Nursing in 1982. She received her Master’s Degree in nursing from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1996. She received her doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) from Texas Christian University (TCU). Her certifications include Clinical Specialist-Medical-Surgical Nursing and Nurse Executive-Advanced. Brenda was also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Brenda's professional life was dedicated to the health and well-being of others. She had been quoted saying, “Being a nurse is the only thing I’ve ever been driven to do. I feel very fortunate to know what I wanted to be as a child.” Brenda began her nursing career in the cardiology department due to her maternal Grandfather’s heart issues and later became an instructor at St. John’s School of Nursing. She then moved to Scotts Bluff, Nebraska in 1998 to work at Regional West Medical Center as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. Brenda moved back to Missouri in 2003 and worked at Skaggs Community Health Center as the Chief Nursing Officer. While working in Branson she also helped start College of the Ozarks Nursing Program and was a member on the Nursing Board of Directors. In 2009 she moved to Texas to work at Baylor Irving as their Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer. In 2017 she moved to Bayhealth Medical Center in Dover, Delaware as their Senior Vice President/Chief Nurse Executive.

Brenda is survived by her mother Patricia Blain of Saddlebrooke; her brother Jim Blain and his wife Debra of Ozark; her sister Cindy Blain of Springfield; her nephew Garrett and wife Alexa of Ozark; nieces Sierra Blain of Springfield, Beth and husband Bryant of Springfield; and grandniece KayLee. Her father Harold Blain precedes her in passing, along with her grandparents.

Brenda's life was one that was well-lived and full of purpose. She was a leader and innovator.  She loved, challenged, and inspired those around her and left the world a little better than she found it. 

A celebration of Brenda’s life will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel on the College of the Ozarks campus.  Memorials are requested to the College of the Ozarks, P. O. Box 17, Point Lookout, MO 65726 in support of the nursing program. Services are in the care of Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home & Crematory, Branson.

Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home and Crematory

1638 East State Highway 76

Branson, Missouri 65616

Telephone – 417-334-3670

Fax – 417-336-3670