Joe Bill Brooks

Joe Bill Brooks, 87, of Longview, a Christian, devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, PawPaw and Patriot died peacefully surrounded by his family, Saturday morning, December 31, 2016 following a brief illness. He was born November 23, 1929 at home in the McKnight Community of Rusk County, TX, the sixth of nine children (six boys and three girls) born to Ernest Eugene Brooks and Myrtie Linual Chaney Brooks.

Joe was a depression era baby; born into a farming and sharecropping family of humble means. He was raised in and around the Mt. Enterprise and Henderson area and attended Laneville schools where he played on the basketball team with his brother, Junior, for the Laneville Yellowjackets and graduated salutatorian from Laneville High School in 1947. Shortly thereafter, Joe reported for military service in Shreveport, LA only to be denied due to high blood pressure.

Joe married his sweetheart, Wilma Marie Funk at her parents' (Edgar and Clara Funk) home in Price, TX on October 17, 1952. Their firstborn, Michael Joe, followed in 1954 with daughter, Linda Marie, making her appearance in 1957.

Joe, a high energy, persevering, never sit down sort, dedicated his prime to providing for his family working various and multiple jobs from electrician to selling, hauling and installing propane systems to roofing houses and churches until the early 1970's. On April 1, 1957, he joined the Texas Eastman Division of Eastman Chemical Company where he devoted over 40 years until his retirement as a Product Assistant - No. 1 Olefin at the age of 68 on December 31, 1997. Although retired, he never slowed; he just shifted gears in season. From provider to caregiver, devoted to looking after his family and friends. He loved working with his hands, hauling things on his trailers, construction and maintenance projects, gardening, hunting, driving his tractors, and filling deer feeders and such at his home away from home in Mercury, TX.

Joe delighted most in his family. There, he was fully invested, including his extended family. He considered them his "treasure"; that which he continually thought of, spoke of and faithfully served and enjoyed. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21. Joe, fiercely independent, answered to no man, set his own schedule and did things his own way. That said, he always made himself available to his family and served them in many capacities; caregiver, counselor, provider, project engineer to name a few. The only hard date on his calendar was the Annual Brooks Family Reunion which he never missed. After family was country. Joe faithfully flew American flags over all his home places.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, three sisters, his loving wife and his son. Survivors include his beloved daughter, Linda Sneed and her husband, Lindsay, of Tyler; grandson, Lucas Sneed, and his wife, Kerry, of Montgomery; granddaughter, Mallory Travers, and her husband, Chris, of Spring; great grandson, Noah Lee Sneed; great granddaughter, Juliana Marie Sneed; his brother, Roy, of Mesquite; and many dearly loved nieces, nephews, family and friends.

A closed casket visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. Saturday, January 7, 2017, at Lakeview Funeral Home in Longview, TX with his Life Celebration service immediately following. Thereafter, entombment will take place in the Lakeview Memorial Gardens mausoleum.

Pallbearers will be Joe's grandsons, Luke and Chris, and his grand nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gideon's International Bible Program, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214, 615.564.5000 , www.gideons.org