TORRINGTON – Darlene Brooks passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2020.
Memorial Services will be Friday, June 26, 2020, at the United Methodist Church in Torrington.
Darlene Mae Blakeley was born on Dec. 18, 1928, in Crab Orchard, Neb., to Charles Edison and Ila Mae Smidt Blakeley. The family moved to Tecumseh, Neb., when she was three years old and to Torrington when she was nine years old. She attended Torrington schools and graduated with honors with the class of 1947 at Torrington.
She was baptized and joined the Methodist Church at 11 years of age and remained a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church.
Darlene and Warren Brooks were united in marriage on July 6, 1947, at the United Methodist Church in Torrington. To this union two children were born, Larry Warren and Diane Darlene.
In 1950, the Brooks family moved to Glenrock, moving back to Torrington in 1958, when they purchased the Torrington News. In 1970 they moved to Chadron, Neb., where the couple started B & B Printing. They sold the business in 1988 and retired, remaining in Chadron until August 2001 when they moved back to Torrington.
She worked as church secretary at the United Methodist Church in Torrington for eight years, at the Holly Sugar Factory in the office during campaign for 10 years, at the Torrington News for eight years, and B & B Printing for 18 years.
Darlene was very family oriented and loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt. She enjoyed traveling, dancing, and playing bridge. Darlene and Warren took all the children and grandchildren to Disneyland in California two times, and Disney World in Florida, four times. Those were treasured times for the Brooks’. They also enjoyed watching the grandchildren as they participated in activities.
Survivors include her husband, Cecil Warren Brooks, son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Kate Brooks of Fort Collins, Colo., grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Jennifer and Mark Trail, Katelyn and Rhett, of Nebraska City, Neb.; Lisa and Jeffrey Hamar, Alexander and Joshua, of Marshalltown, Iowa; Amber and Cory Brooks, Kassidy,. Gage, and Cade of Casper; Jill and Jim Runner of Fort Collins; Chrystal and Cody Brooks, Taylor, Peyton, Braden, and Brynn of Chadron; sister, LaVonne Daiss of Torrington; and sister-in-law, Eleanor Messer of Cody.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Diane Darlene Brooks, brothers: Donald Keith (infant), and Charles Eldon Blakeley, sisters: Viva Lou Smith, and Joyce Irene Lang.
Cremation has taken place. Burial will be at Valley View Cemetery at Torrington.
In lieu of flowers, a Memorial has been established at the United Methodist Church in Torrington.
