Elizabeth "Libby" Ward Brooke

She was wonderful, kind, intelligent, and had a great sense of humor. She was a friend, mentor, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She was born in North Beach, Maryland to Willard and Lorena Ward. She had 3 sisters, Glenna, Carolyn, Peggy, and one brother, Willard- known as Smokey.

She attended Maryland State Teachers College, and became an Elementary Teacher. She married John T. Brooke, and after having 3 children and working at the same time, they made their way to Houston to live in the Memorial area. After teaching 5th grade in the Spring Branch Independent School district, she went on to obtain her masters degree. She became the “director for staff development “ for SBISD and liked to say that her job was “teaching teachers how to teach”. When her youngest son finished high school, they moved to West Houston, followed by a move to Fulshear.

When she retired in her 60s, Libby and her husband moved to Brenham. She took up oil painting as a hobby, yet became a successful artist, specializing in bluebonnet and still-life painting. She was president of the Brenham Art League for several terms, and made many close friends through her art.

Libby was preceded in death by her husband John in 1988. She is survived by her children Jon Brooke (wife Beth), Dana Brooke (wife Kathy), and Vickie VanDoorn (husband Steve). She has 6 grandchildren- Julie (Chris), Erin, Kyle, Jackie (Garrett), Allison (Tim), and Kellie (Luke). She also is survived by 7 great grandchildren- Ayla, Aleksander, Mason, Owen, Cameron, Connor, and Chandler, and another on the way!

The Brooke family would like to acknowledge ACARA Hospice of Bellville and Sealy, for taking excellent care of Libby for the last 3 years of her life. She loved Sharon Graham, whom she affectionately called her “Baby Doctor”.

The family will receive friends at Memorial Oaks Funeral home, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston 77079 on Saturday, December 13th, from 9-11am. Burial and graveside service will follow for those that choose to join the send off for a beautiful life, well-lived.

‘In every memory we keep a piece of you alive, forever etched in our hearts”