She was born on Nov. 2, 1922, at Attica to Olin J. and Jeanetta E. (Hoyt) Kinzer. She grew up at Attica and attended schools there, graduating from Attica High School in 1940. Following high school, she moved to Parsons, where she worked at the Edwards grocery store and a dry cleaning business.
She married L. Meryle Brooks on May 16, 1942, at Sidney, Neb. He preceded her in death on July 15, 1997.
She and her husband moved to rural Thayer after World War II and farmed for many years. She was a homemaker and helped her husband on the family farm. They later moved into Thayer. They also owned and operated the M&M café at Thayer.
She was a member of the Thayer Christian Church. She enjoyed baking and making candies. She made Christmas candy every Christmas. She was active in the PTA and 4-H when her children were young. She also enjoyed spending time at the Thayer Senior Center. She served as the grand marshal at the Thayer Homecoming Parade this past year. She was affectionately known as “Grandma” within the Thayer community.
She is survived by three sons, Duane Brooks of Thayer, Mervin Brooks, and his wife, Sharon, of Columbus and Marvin Brooks, and his wife, Sandy, of Thayer; 46 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; two brothers, Bill Kinzer of Parsons and Paul Kinzer of Claremore, Okla.; and a sister, Jewell Shields of Broomfield, Colo.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sheryl Vanderford, on March 12, 2003; a great-grandson, Isiah Michael Brooks on Nov. 9, 2006; and a sister, Jean Vanzant.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Thayer Christian Church. Cremation will follow the service, and a private committal service will be held at a later date at the Thayer Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday. Memorials are suggested to Thayer Christian Church Youth Group and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.
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