John Clyde Brooks

John C. Brooks “Catfish”, 90, of Kansas City, MO, passed away Monday, March 9, 2020 at Carnegie Village Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Belton, MO. John was born on November 23, 1929 in Kansas City, MO to Abner Catlin and Adgelien Pearl Brooks.

He grew up in Kansas City, MO and enlisted in the US Army on January 29, 1951. He was sent to basic training at Ft. Sill in Lawton, OK and after graduating he was sent to White Sands Proving Grounds in Las Cruces, New Mexico. On January 28, 1953 he was Honorably Discharged in Ft. Bliss, TX. John worked for S.W. Bell Telephone Co. for 25 plus years installing PBX systems and communication tech for some additional telecommunication businesses and did work for himself at the end of his career. He was a Union Steward for IBEW Local 124 Electrical Workers. He was so handy and could fix anything.

John was always helping someone out. He thoroughly enjoyed fishing, boating (riding or pulling skiers or tubers), at the lake house, spoiling his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He loved going to baseball games and scouting activities with his son and grandsons. John loved going to band concerts of his daughter, Debbe and grandson, Charlie. He truly loved his family and friends and that included most everyone he came in contact with. He built his lake home and did home improvements/additions to our childhood home, which he did reside in until his illnesses/health conditions.

John is preceded in death by his parents; wife of 42 years, Jenny; brother, Bob; son, Ronnie; grandson, Nathaniel; and 3 great grandsons, Mason, Corey, and Austin.

He is survived by daughters, Debbe Cook (Charlie) of Raymore, MO and Barb Knight of Belton, MO; widowed daughter-in-law, Shelly Brooks of Lamont, MO; 8 grandchildren: Charlie and Preston Cook (Bailey), Patricia Parvin-Smith, John Parvin, Stephanie Godinez (Shawn), and Derek, Brandon, and Aaron Brooks; 8 great-grandchildren: Leeanne Cook, Xavier, Lincoln, and Presley Cook, Reece and Gabby Parvin, and Tristan and Brooklyn Godinez, along with one additional one any day; sister, Geraldien Roberts; sister-in-law, Mary Thomas; sister-in-law, Liz Brooks, four step-grandchildren: Stacy Hall, Tony Cook (Lisa), Guy Cook (Teana) and Sharon Stuewe (Mark); along with many nieces and nephews, including greats all over the USA.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 17 from 6-8 PM at Floral Hills Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held at 2 PM on Wednesday, March 18, also at Floral Hills Funeral Home, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64133.