William (Bill) Brooks, 83, of Yukon, Oklahoma, was born and raised on a farm near Blevins, Arkansas, the son of Zack and Opal (Mitchell) Brooks. After moving to Evansville, Indiana, in the late 1940s, he became a skilled and dedicated employee for International Harvester and later Whirlpool Corporation for 40 years at the refrigerator manufacturing plant located on US Hwy 41. He witnessed to a deep faith in Christ and served as a longtime dedicated member of Evansville (IN) 1st Church of the Nazarene. In recent years, after moving to Oklahoma to be near family, he became a member of Bethany (OK) 1st Church of the Nazarene. A loving father and grandfather who cared deeply for his extended family, William was a gifted storyteller and family historian. He was a genuinely good and helpful friend and neighbor. He was highly skilled mechanically, a craftsman who especially loved gardening and woodworking. He was married to Violet (Ross) Brooks of Hope, Arkansas, for 42 years. Preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife; and niece, Barbara Caldarera, of North Little Rock (AR), William is survived by his son, Mike, and wife, Darlene, of Bethany (OK); granddaughters: Mindy, Emily and Kaylee; his loving sister and cherished friend, Mary Brown; niece, Margaret Conway, and husband, Charles, of Cabot, Arkansas; and numerous cousins, great- nieces and nephews and friends who loved him and he them.. Visitation will be at Mercer-Adams Funeral Home in Bethany, Monday evening, Sept. 28. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, at Bethany 1st Church of the Nazarene, with interment at Memory Gardens, Hope, Arkansas, Thursday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m.


Published in The Oklahoman on September 28, 2009