Don Vernell Brooks

Don Vernell Brooks, 52, of Katy, TX, passed away on Tuesday, August 29, 2017, after an apparent heart attack. Don was born on April 22, 1965, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He grew up in Oklahoma City where he graduated from Northeast High School. Don went on to attend The University of Oklahoma where he received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He began his 28 year career as a Facilities Engineer at Shell Oil Company in Houston. Through a series of acquisitions and mergers, he then worked for Altura Energy, and ultimately as a Senior Engineer Advisor for Oxy Petroleum. Within months of moving to Houston, Don met and married Sherry. Outside of work, Don’s time was spent in complete devotion to the rearing of their three busy children - Alexandra, Camille and Evan. He spent countless hours at swim meets, track meets (so many track meets), dance recitals, theatre productions, basketball games, football games, band and orchestra concerts, Adventure Princesses and Adventure Guides For play, and he liked to play, Don could be found in the cul-de-sac with all the children of Baron Cove Lane. He was lovingly known as Mr. Don to the kids and was one of their favorite playmates. Don enjoyed a wide variety of music, and in his leisure could usually be found in his favorite chair with his headphones. Don became a Christian and was baptized at age 26. He loved his church family at Second Baptist, and was instrumental in the start of the west campus. He lived according to the principles of Jesus Christ which was his source of strength through the health issues he has suffered for 20 years.

Don is survived by his daughters, Alexandra Elizabeth, of Sugar Land, and Camille Annette, of Austin; his son, Evan Kennedy, a mechanical engineering student at The University of Oklahoma; Sherry Brooks, his wife of over 25 years, sisters, Latricia Brooks-Wadkins and Donna Brooks, of Oklahoma City; nephews: Derrick Thomas, Alfonzo Thomas, Ronald Brooks and Sterling Brooks, all of Oklahoma City; niece, Kendra Jones, of Oklahoma City; and a large host of extended members of the Evans and Fontenot families. He is preceded in death by his adopted mother, Johnnie Mae Brooks, brother, Eugene Brooks, and sister, Rhonda Brooks-Jones.

A service to celebrate the life of Don Brooks will be held at Second Baptist Church, West Campus, at 19449 Katy Freeway, Houston, 77094, on Monday, September 4th, at 11:00 a.m. Arrangements are being coordinated by the Katy Funeral Home, 23350 Kingsland Boulevard, Katy, TX. For more information, visit www.katyfh.com, and click the name, Don V. Brooks to access the tribute page in his honor.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Don’s name to Small Steps Nurturing Center, 1709 Depelchin Street, Houston, TX, 77007.