Brenda Kay Gilbert

Brenda Kay Gilbert

Brenda Kay Gilbert, 51, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., passed away on Jan. 4, 2015 at Sarah Cannon Cancer Center following a hard-fought battle against breast cancer.

She was born on Christmas Eve 1963 to Wint and Gertrude Seaver and graduated from Fort Scott High School and received her Associate's Degree of Arts and Sciences from Fort Scott Community College in 1985 -- the same year that she married Alan Gilbert. While Brenda held a variety of positions in the hospitality industry, her most valued job was being a loving wife and devoted mother to her three children.

An avid animal lover, Brenda had a menagerie of pets including chickens, horses, cats and dogs. She enjoyed gardening, fishing, taking long walks in the countryside, reading and cooking. She also loved to express her creativity through writing and crafting. Her incredible sense of humor ensured she was always the life of any party.

Predeceased by grandparents Howard and Margaret Seaver and William and Marie Lucas, Brenda is survived by her husband of 30 years, Alan, three children; Jessica Robinson of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Carson Gilbert of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Kaylin Gilbert of Colorado Springs, Colo., her parents, Wint and Gertrude Seaver of Fort Scott, Kan., her brother Jeffrey Seaver of Parsons, Kan., as well as a loving assortment of brothers- and sisters--in law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will be holding a private celebration of life on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Susan G. Komen or the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center.