ELLA MAE (BURRUS) BROOKS







Ella Mae Brooks, 74, Nevada, MO, lost her battle to leukemia on July 23, 2008 at her home. She was born June 12, 1934 in Bloomfield, NE, to Oran Everett and Bonavie Emalyne (LaFarge) Burrus. She married Nelson Ray Brooks on June 27, 1953 at the Methodist Church in Hume, MO, and he survives of the home.



Ella Mae attended Rich Hill schools for 1st-3rd grades, Prairie Union Grade School (a country school) for 4th and 6th grades as she was allowed to bypass 5th grade, and then Hume R-8 for grades 7-12. She graduated from Hume High School in 1951 right along with her husband.



Ella Mae worked for the Hume R-8 Schools as secretary to the superintendent for two years before getting married in 1953. She stayed at home and babysat, sewed and did alteration work, and was active in her two children's school activities.



She began a career with Sears Roebuck & Co. in Nevada in September of 1968 until they closed in December of 1982. Then, she transferred to Overland Park Sears Store Group Office in January 1983 ordering for buyers until they closed the Metcalf South office in 1988. She was then hired by Don and Cindy Wells, of Thomas Pharmacy, as a cashier, then accountant for the store, and eventually a pharmacy technician. The business was sold in 1991 to Dan Saleaumua, former Kansas City Chiefs player, who opened The Medicine Shoppe and Ella Mae worked there until her retirement in 1996.



Ella Mae committed her life to Christ at the age of 16 at the Pleasanton Baptist Church. She transferred her membership to Calvary Baptist of Nevada in 1953, and then joined the First Baptist Church of Nevada in 1989.



Other memberships included O.E.S.#53 (Order of the Eastern Star), Vernon County BPW, softball and bowling teams, den mother for Cub Scout Pack 42, cookie chairman for Girl Scouts, and president of Franklin School and NHS PTA's. She also enjoyed spending time with family, vacationing in Colorado, and reading.



Survivors in addition to her husband, Nelson, include one son, Randy Brooks, and his wife, Amy, of Nevada; one daughter, Ranea Schulze, and her husband, Ron, of Nevada; six grandchildren: Christopher Schulze, and his wife, Jenny, of Republic; Kyle Schulze, of Nevada; Bob, Amanda and Bryan Brooks, of Florida; Isabella Brooks, of Nevada; three step-grandchildren: Samantha, Tayrin, and Kodie Schmitt, of Nevada; and a great-grandchild due in January 2009; one sister, Dorothy "Tiny" Busbea, Blue Springs, MO; one brother, Oran Allen Burrus, Nevada; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; one niece, Lisa Burrus; three nephews: Oran Everett Burrus, Travis Alan Burrus, and David Lee Busbea; one great-nephew, Khalab Cargill; and four brothers-in-law: Melvin, Tom, and Bob Brooks, and Darrell Busbea.



Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26 at the First Baptist Church in Nevada, MO with Dr. William Cox officiating. Interment will follow in Moore Cemetery. Family visitation will be held at Ferry Funeral Home from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 25 and friends may call until 8:00 p.m. on Friday at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, MO. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may contribute to the Ella Mae Brooks Memorial to benefit the NHS library or the Vernon County Cancer Relief Fund in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, MO.