Irvin Fennie Brooks Sr.

Irvin F. Brooks, Sr., 88, of Butte, Nebraska, passed away Monday, June 9, 2014, at the Butte Health Care Center in Butte. Irvin was born January 1, 1926, in Remington, Virginia to Willie Amos and Florence Lee (Embrey) Brooks . He attended school near the family home through the sixth grade. He was united in marriage to Leila Mary Smoot, and the couple was blessed with five children: Irvin, Jr., Peggy, Dale, Terry, and Tammy. Irvin served his country in the United States Navy during World War II, attaining the rank of Seaman-First Class. In his time in the Navy from 1944 until 1946, Irvin served in the Pacific Theatre, and was awarded several medals for his service: the American Area World War II Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal (with two stars), and the Asiatic Pacific Medal (with two stars.) Aside from his time in the Navy, Irvin spent most of his career working on various dairy farms in Northern Virginia. While living in Brandy Station, Irvin retired and took up his favorite pastime of gardening. In December, 2010, Irvin moved to Butte, Nebraska, and while living there, was able to spend time with his Nebraska family, and made many friends in the community. Although he had left his huge garden behind in Brandy Station, gardening was such a major part of who Irvin was that he had discussed trying to talk the ladies at the Butte Health Care Center into letting him plant a few tomato plants in front of his window. Irvin is survived by his children, Irvin Brooks, Jr., Peggy Shipe, Dale Brooks, Terry Brooks, and Tammy Foster; grandchildren, James Brooks, Christy Brooks, Steven Shipe, Leila Brooks, Brady Brooks and Molly Foster; great grandchildren; Trevor Brooks, Mercedes Brooks, Myles Brooks and Jeremiah Gordon; and his sister, Minerver Renaud. In addition to his parents, Irvin was preceded in death by his wife, Leila (Smoot) Brooks; second wife, Louise Brooks; sisters, Annabelle Ball, Alice Newton, and Isabelle Courtney; and brothers, Bennie Brooks, Eugene Brooks, and Chestine Brooks. Services were held in Butte, Nebraska on June 12, 2014. A time of family visitation will be held at Clore-English Funeral Home, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 17, 2014. A funeral service will be held in the chapel of Clore-English Funeral Home, 11190 James Monroe Highway, Culpeper, at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 18, 2014. Interment will immediately follow in Mt. Holly Cemetery, Remington, Virginia. On-line condolences may be offered at clore-english.com.