Note: The headstone photos are copies taken off of Colleen Carroll McElroy Brooks by Linda Nix (Winn) Black and added to this memorial. The original photo are courtesy of Jackie on 9/15/2006.
Obituary
Troyal "Raymond" Brooks, Jr., was the son of Velma Glee Dickens & Troyal Raymond Brooks, Sr. His parents were married in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Aug. 28, 1927. Troyal was their 2nd child, & their first son. "Raymond" was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1931. He died brokenhearted after long-grieving the Cancer death of his beloved 2nd wife, Colleen Caroll McElRoy Brooks in 1999, whom he married on Jan. 27,1957, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Raymond", as he was preferred to be called, had one son, Michael Brooks, born 1951, from his previous marriage in 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"Raymond" had two other siblings, Marcellette Brooks, born 1928, & Glenda Sue Brooks, born 1940, also in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Troyal "Raymond" Brooks, Jr., a former Marine, was a draftsman for an oil company by trade, & as with his beloved wife, Colleen, & family, shared a love & appreciation for Country Music that could be compared to that of no other families'. They especially loved & enjoyed George Jones, Hank Williams, & his own wife, Collen Carroll McElroy Brooks, & their music & performances, & were known for having a weekly "Country Music & Performance Night" in their home in Yukon when their children were growing-up.
"Raymond" & Colleen Brooks had two children together, Kelly Brooks (7-28-1960), & Troyal "Garth" Brooks,(2-7-1962), also born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Colleen had 3 older children from her first marriage,Jerome, James, & Betsy & all were born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They later moved to Yukon, Oklahoma, after the birth of their youngest child, Garth in 1962, where their children who also attended the Yukon Public Schools, (attending Myers Elementary), & excelling in sports & music, & graduating from High School in Yukon, Oklahoma.
Raymond & Colleen, their love, devotion and dedication to their family, and their appreciation to Country Music no doubt had a tremendous influence and inspiration on their youngest son, Troyal "Garth Brooks," and the tremendous success in writing, singing & performing Country Music which he quickly and devotedly found during and after graduating from college at Oklahoma State Univerity in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on a Sport's Scholarship, in 1984. Garth went on to all-time awards and Country Music success from "Newcomer of the Year," and "Entertainer of the Year," while propelling himself to the all-time award winning & sales performer in the history of the World! Garth Brooks was not only "Raymond" & Colleen's most famous son, he is definitely the famous and most favorite son of Yukon, Oklahoma, OKLAHOMA, & all of Country Music!
Raymond was a private person, and little is known about him personally other than his love and devotion to his family; especially the love and dedication to his soul mate, wife, Colleen, and to Country Music!
He was known to be a meticulous business man, and was always the one that "dotted the i's & crossed the t's," in all that he did. No doubt his business savvy contributed to the tremendous success of his son, Garth Brooks, and his instant success in the business end of his Country Music Industry, and Garth's history-making fianancial success of all-times!
One personal note about Raymond that a long-tike Florist in Yukon, Oklahoma, shared with me is especially endearing. She said, from the day after Colleen's funeral, Raymond came there everyday and bought fresh flowers to put on Colleen's Grave, and did this until a few days before he died. At the time of his death, he was living on a Ranch that Garth bought for him & Colleen outside of Edmond, Oklahoma. That had to be at least about 30 miles, and a 40 minute drive to her beautiful grave and Memorial at Yukon Cemetery in Yukon, Oklahoma, ionically, located on the now named, "Garth Brooks Boulevard!" I have no doubt, that Raymond must have had a great feeling of pride and joy as he turned south each day from Route 66 in Yukon, Oklahoma, after leaving the flower shop, and turned north onto Garth Brooks Blvd., to head to decorate the grave of his beloved Colleen. If you haven't seen the Memorial where Raymond is buried by the love is his life, Colleen Brooks, this is a special visit that is worth your time and attention! It is one of the most beautiful tributes to ones' parents I have ever seen, and "Garth, you did GREAT, Miller!" Love and family warmth, dedication and devotion will fill the air around your viist.
Garth and wife, Trisha Yearwood, were in Las Vegas, NV, the day that Raymond died, Apil 7, 2010, & Garth announced it on stage before he performed at Wynn Encore in Las Vegas, or few would have known of Raymond's death as soon as we did. There was not an obituary in the papers, & there was not a public viewing or service. We think from unnamed sources, that he was buried by Colleen, about 10 days later on a rainy Saturday that Garth & Trisha Yearwood Brooks & family were in OKC for a book signing of her award winning cookbook. It was supposedly a private, quiet and immediate family only, graveside service at Yukon Cemetery, (just as Raymond would have wanted), on Garth Brooks Boulevard! What a great, loving and humble man of God! He made the World a better place, and now is in the arms of his Colleen,and that of God, as they share their life in Heaven! Amazing the Grace!
Obituary
Troyal "Raymond" Brooks, Jr., was the son of Velma Glee Dickens & Troyal Raymond Brooks, Sr. His parents were married in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Aug. 28, 1927. Troyal was their 2nd child, & their first son. "Raymond" was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1931. He died brokenhearted after long-grieving the Cancer death of his beloved 2nd wife, Colleen Caroll McElRoy Brooks in 1999, whom he married on Jan. 27,1957, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Raymond", as he was preferred to be called, had one son, Michael Brooks, born 1951, from his previous marriage in 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"Raymond" had two other siblings, Marcellette Brooks, born 1928, & Glenda Sue Brooks, born 1940, also in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Troyal "Raymond" Brooks, Jr., a former Marine, was a draftsman for an oil company by trade, & as with his beloved wife, Colleen, & family, shared a love & appreciation for Country Music that could be compared to that of no other families'. They especially loved & enjoyed George Jones, Hank Williams, & his own wife, Collen Carroll McElroy Brooks, & their music & performances, & were known for having a weekly "Country Music & Performance Night" in their home in Yukon when their children were growing-up.
"Raymond" & Colleen Brooks had two children together, Kelly Brooks (7-28-1960), & Troyal "Garth" Brooks,(2-7-1962), also born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Colleen had 3 older children from her first marriage,Jerome, James, & Betsy & all were born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They later moved to Yukon, Oklahoma, after the birth of their youngest child, Garth in 1962, where their children who also attended the Yukon Public Schools, (attending Myers Elementary), & excelling in sports & music, & graduating from High School in Yukon, Oklahoma.
Raymond & Colleen, their love, devotion and dedication to their family, and their appreciation to Country Music no doubt had a tremendous influence and inspiration on their youngest son, Troyal "Garth Brooks," and the tremendous success in writing, singing & performing Country Music which he quickly and devotedly found during and after graduating from college at Oklahoma State Univerity in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on a Sport's Scholarship, in 1984. Garth went on to all-time awards and Country Music success from "Newcomer of the Year," and "Entertainer of the Year," while propelling himself to the all-time award winning & sales performer in the history of the World! Garth Brooks was not only "Raymond" & Colleen's most famous son, he is definitely the famous and most favorite son of Yukon, Oklahoma, OKLAHOMA, & all of Country Music!
Raymond was a private person, and little is known about him personally other than his love and devotion to his family; especially the love and dedication to his soul mate, wife, Colleen, and to Country Music!
He was known to be a meticulous business man, and was always the one that "dotted the i's & crossed the t's," in all that he did. No doubt his business savvy contributed to the tremendous success of his son, Garth Brooks, and his instant success in the business end of his Country Music Industry, and Garth's history-making fianancial success of all-times!
One personal note about Raymond that a long-tike Florist in Yukon, Oklahoma, shared with me is especially endearing. She said, from the day after Colleen's funeral, Raymond came there everyday and bought fresh flowers to put on Colleen's Grave, and did this until a few days before he died. At the time of his death, he was living on a Ranch that Garth bought for him & Colleen outside of Edmond, Oklahoma. That had to be at least about 30 miles, and a 40 minute drive to her beautiful grave and Memorial at Yukon Cemetery in Yukon, Oklahoma, ionically, located on the now named, "Garth Brooks Boulevard!" I have no doubt, that Raymond must have had a great feeling of pride and joy as he turned south each day from Route 66 in Yukon, Oklahoma, after leaving the flower shop, and turned north onto Garth Brooks Blvd., to head to decorate the grave of his beloved Colleen. If you haven't seen the Memorial where Raymond is buried by the love is his life, Colleen Brooks, this is a special visit that is worth your time and attention! It is one of the most beautiful tributes to ones' parents I have ever seen, and "Garth, you did GREAT, Miller!" Love and family warmth, dedication and devotion will fill the air around your viist.
Garth and wife, Trisha Yearwood, were in Las Vegas, NV, the day that Raymond died, Apil 7, 2010, & Garth announced it on stage before he performed at Wynn Encore in Las Vegas, or few would have known of Raymond's death as soon as we did. There was not an obituary in the papers, & there was not a public viewing or service. We think from unnamed sources, that he was buried by Colleen, about 10 days later on a rainy Saturday that Garth & Trisha Yearwood Brooks & family were in OKC for a book signing of her award winning cookbook. It was supposedly a private, quiet and immediate family only, graveside service at Yukon Cemetery, (just as Raymond would have wanted), on Garth Brooks Boulevard! What a great, loving and humble man of God! He made the World a better place, and now is in the arms of his Colleen,and that of God, as they share their life in Heaven! Amazing the Grace!
Note: The headstone photos are copies taken off of Colleen Carroll McElroy Brooks by Linda Nix (Winn) Black and added to this memorial. The original photo are courtesy of Jackie on 9/15/2006.
Obituary
Troyal "Raymond" Brooks, Jr., was the son of Velma Glee Dickens & Troyal Raymond Brooks, Sr. His parents were married in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Aug. 28, 1927. Troyal was their 2nd child, & their first son. "Raymond" was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1931. He died brokenhearted after long-grieving the Cancer death of his beloved 2nd wife, Colleen Caroll McElRoy Brooks in 1999, whom he married on Jan. 27,1957, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Raymond", as he was preferred to be called, had one son, Michael Brooks, born 1951, from his previous marriage in 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"Raymond" had two other siblings, Marcellette Brooks, born 1928, & Glenda Sue Brooks, born 1940, also in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Troyal "Raymond" Brooks, Jr., a former Marine, was a draftsman for an oil company by trade, & as with his beloved wife, Colleen, & family, shared a love & appreciation for Country Music that could be compared to that of no other families'. They especially loved & enjoyed George Jones, Hank Williams, & his own wife, Collen Carroll McElroy Brooks, & their music & performances, & were known for having a weekly "Country Music & Performance Night" in their home in Yukon when their children were growing-up.
"Raymond" & Colleen Brooks had two children together, Kelly Brooks (7-28-1960), & Troyal "Garth" Brooks,(2-7-1962), also born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Colleen had 3 older children from her first marriage,Jerome, James, & Betsy & all were born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They later moved to Yukon, Oklahoma, after the birth of their youngest child, Garth in 1962, where their children who also attended the Yukon Public Schools, (attending Myers Elementary), & excelling in sports & music, & graduating from High School in Yukon, Oklahoma.
Raymond & Colleen, their love, devotion and dedication to their family, and their appreciation to Country Music no doubt had a tremendous influence and inspiration on their youngest son, Troyal "Garth Brooks," and the tremendous success in writing, singing & performing Country Music which he quickly and devotedly found during and after graduating from college at Oklahoma State Univerity in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on a Sport's Scholarship, in 1984. Garth went on to all-time awards and Country Music success from "Newcomer of the Year," and "Entertainer of the Year," while propelling himself to the all-time award winning & sales performer in the history of the World! Garth Brooks was not only "Raymond" & Colleen's most famous son, he is definitely the famous and most favorite son of Yukon, Oklahoma, OKLAHOMA, & all of Country Music!
Raymond was a private person, and little is known about him personally other than his love and devotion to his family; especially the love and dedication to his soul mate, wife, Colleen, and to Country Music!
He was known to be a meticulous business man, and was always the one that "dotted the i's & crossed the t's," in all that he did. No doubt his business savvy contributed to the tremendous success of his son, Garth Brooks, and his instant success in the business end of his Country Music Industry, and Garth's history-making fianancial success of all-times!
One personal note about Raymond that a long-tike Florist in Yukon, Oklahoma, shared with me is especially endearing. She said, from the day after Colleen's funeral, Raymond came there everyday and bought fresh flowers to put on Colleen's Grave, and did this until a few days before he died. At the time of his death, he was living on a Ranch that Garth bought for him & Colleen outside of Edmond, Oklahoma. That had to be at least about 30 miles, and a 40 minute drive to her beautiful grave and Memorial at Yukon Cemetery in Yukon, Oklahoma, ionically, located on the now named, "Garth Brooks Boulevard!" I have no doubt, that Raymond must have had a great feeling of pride and joy as he turned south each day from Route 66 in Yukon, Oklahoma, after leaving the flower shop, and turned north onto Garth Brooks Blvd., to head to decorate the grave of his beloved Colleen. If you haven't seen the Memorial where Raymond is buried by the love is his life, Colleen Brooks, this is a special visit that is worth your time and attention! It is one of the most beautiful tributes to ones' parents I have ever seen, and "Garth, you did GREAT, Miller!" Love and family warmth, dedication and devotion will fill the air around your viist.
Garth and wife, Trisha Yearwood, were in Las Vegas, NV, the day that Raymond died, Apil 7, 2010, & Garth announced it on stage before he performed at Wynn Encore in Las Vegas, or few would have known of Raymond's death as soon as we did. There was not an obituary in the papers, & there was not a public viewing or service. We think from unnamed sources, that he was buried by Colleen, about 10 days later on a rainy Saturday that Garth & Trisha Yearwood Brooks & family were in OKC for a book signing of her award winning cookbook. It was supposedly a private, quiet and immediate family only, graveside service at Yukon Cemetery, (just as Raymond would have wanted), on Garth Brooks Boulevard! What a great, loving and humble man of God! He made the World a better place, and now is in the arms of his Colleen,and that of God, as they share their life in Heaven! Amazing the Grace!
Obituary
Troyal "Raymond" Brooks, Jr., was the son of Velma Glee Dickens & Troyal Raymond Brooks, Sr. His parents were married in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Aug. 28, 1927. Troyal was their 2nd child, & their first son. "Raymond" was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1931. He died brokenhearted after long-grieving the Cancer death of his beloved 2nd wife, Colleen Caroll McElRoy Brooks in 1999, whom he married on Jan. 27,1957, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Raymond", as he was preferred to be called, had one son, Michael Brooks, born 1951, from his previous marriage in 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"Raymond" had two other siblings, Marcellette Brooks, born 1928, & Glenda Sue Brooks, born 1940, also in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Troyal "Raymond" Brooks, Jr., a former Marine, was a draftsman for an oil company by trade, & as with his beloved wife, Colleen, & family, shared a love & appreciation for Country Music that could be compared to that of no other families'. They especially loved & enjoyed George Jones, Hank Williams, & his own wife, Collen Carroll McElroy Brooks, & their music & performances, & were known for having a weekly "Country Music & Performance Night" in their home in Yukon when their children were growing-up.
"Raymond" & Colleen Brooks had two children together, Kelly Brooks (7-28-1960), & Troyal "Garth" Brooks,(2-7-1962), also born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Colleen had 3 older children from her first marriage,Jerome, James, & Betsy & all were born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They later moved to Yukon, Oklahoma, after the birth of their youngest child, Garth in 1962, where their children who also attended the Yukon Public Schools, (attending Myers Elementary), & excelling in sports & music, & graduating from High School in Yukon, Oklahoma.
Raymond & Colleen, their love, devotion and dedication to their family, and their appreciation to Country Music no doubt had a tremendous influence and inspiration on their youngest son, Troyal "Garth Brooks," and the tremendous success in writing, singing & performing Country Music which he quickly and devotedly found during and after graduating from college at Oklahoma State Univerity in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on a Sport's Scholarship, in 1984. Garth went on to all-time awards and Country Music success from "Newcomer of the Year," and "Entertainer of the Year," while propelling himself to the all-time award winning & sales performer in the history of the World! Garth Brooks was not only "Raymond" & Colleen's most famous son, he is definitely the famous and most favorite son of Yukon, Oklahoma, OKLAHOMA, & all of Country Music!
Raymond was a private person, and little is known about him personally other than his love and devotion to his family; especially the love and dedication to his soul mate, wife, Colleen, and to Country Music!
He was known to be a meticulous business man, and was always the one that "dotted the i's & crossed the t's," in all that he did. No doubt his business savvy contributed to the tremendous success of his son, Garth Brooks, and his instant success in the business end of his Country Music Industry, and Garth's history-making fianancial success of all-times!
One personal note about Raymond that a long-tike Florist in Yukon, Oklahoma, shared with me is especially endearing. She said, from the day after Colleen's funeral, Raymond came there everyday and bought fresh flowers to put on Colleen's Grave, and did this until a few days before he died. At the time of his death, he was living on a Ranch that Garth bought for him & Colleen outside of Edmond, Oklahoma. That had to be at least about 30 miles, and a 40 minute drive to her beautiful grave and Memorial at Yukon Cemetery in Yukon, Oklahoma, ionically, located on the now named, "Garth Brooks Boulevard!" I have no doubt, that Raymond must have had a great feeling of pride and joy as he turned south each day from Route 66 in Yukon, Oklahoma, after leaving the flower shop, and turned north onto Garth Brooks Blvd., to head to decorate the grave of his beloved Colleen. If you haven't seen the Memorial where Raymond is buried by the love is his life, Colleen Brooks, this is a special visit that is worth your time and attention! It is one of the most beautiful tributes to ones' parents I have ever seen, and "Garth, you did GREAT, Miller!" Love and family warmth, dedication and devotion will fill the air around your viist.
Garth and wife, Trisha Yearwood, were in Las Vegas, NV, the day that Raymond died, Apil 7, 2010, & Garth announced it on stage before he performed at Wynn Encore in Las Vegas, or few would have known of Raymond's death as soon as we did. There was not an obituary in the papers, & there was not a public viewing or service. We think from unnamed sources, that he was buried by Colleen, about 10 days later on a rainy Saturday that Garth & Trisha Yearwood Brooks & family were in OKC for a book signing of her award winning cookbook. It was supposedly a private, quiet and immediate family only, graveside service at Yukon Cemetery, (just as Raymond would have wanted), on Garth Brooks Boulevard! What a great, loving and humble man of God! He made the World a better place, and now is in the arms of his Colleen,and that of God, as they share their life in Heaven! Amazing the Grace!
