Janis Brooks

Janis "Jean" Brooks, 100 year old long time Disney resident, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at the Grove Integris Hospital. She was born July 8, 1909 in Miami, Oklahoma, the third of Elmer and Maddie (McVay) Bigham's four daughters. Mrs. Brooks graduated from the University of Hawaii with a Masters in Education. She taught school in Oklahoma, California and Alaska, where she retired from teaching in the mid 1970s. In Alaska she was flown in every autumn by bush plane to one of many small villages each with a one room school house where she would teach grades K through 12 and was then flown back out at the end of each school year. While on summer break from teaching, she and her husband, Fred Brooks, would take extensive trips to see the world before visiting family in Oklahoma. On retirement, Mrs. Brooks moved back to the Disney area on Grand Lake where she lived independently until 2005. She was a member of the Baptist church in Disney and also of the Order of the Eastern Star for over 75 years. Mrs. Brooks was an accomplished musician and soloist, even singing Amazing Grace and the Old Rugged Cross on her 100th birthday celebration last summer. The joyous celebration also included the City of Jay, where she lived for the last few years of her life in the loving care of the team at Monroe Manor, honoring her by declaring it Janis Jean Brooks Day. The family includes: her grandchildren, Dale Litchfield, Jr. and Diana Litchfield, both of Claremore and Jan Babiak and husband Brian of London, England and Franklin, Tennessee, as well at other nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, and daughter Mary Jane Litchfield, as well as a grandson David (D. C.) Litchfield, son in-law Dale Litchfield, Sr., and her three sisters, Mildred (Milo) Hopper, Eleanor Settle and June Jenkins. In life Mrs. Brooks gave her heart and soul to God and family, in death she gave her body to medical research, continuing her legacy as an educator through a gift that will help many others. A memorial service will be held on April 4, 2010 (Easter Sunday) at 2:00 pm at the Disney Island Baptist Mission. Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemories.com, Luginbuel's South Grand Lake Funeral.

Service Details

Sunday, April 4th, 2010 2:00pm, Disney Island Baptist Mission

Interment Details

Ketchum Cemetery