Robert Franklin, “Bob”, Brooks Sr, 100, a resident of Kansas City Missouri, passed away peacefully Friday, January 20, 2020 at Tiffany Springs Rehabilitation Center in Kansas City, Missouri. He was born October 13, 1922 to Frank and Opal Brooks in El Reno Oklahoma.
Bob was united in marriage in 1947 to Nyta Alene Armstrong of Tulsa Oklahoma. They resided in Cushing, Oklahoma where he worked in his family’s men’s clothing store, Brooks Clothiers.
Bob was a charismatic, loving man with a great sense of humor. He was known for his storytelling and positive outlook on life, and his love of family especially his grandchildren.
He was active in his community, he belonged to the 1st Christian Church until the family moved to Grain Valley in 2006, where he was a very active member of the Crossroads Church. As a lifetime member of the Rotary Club, he served as his local Rotary Club President, as Assistant District Governor and received its’ Lifetime Achievement award in 2006. He served as a volunteer guide at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City. He also volunteered in his local elementary school “mentorship” program working with students with reading disabilities. He also enjoyed spending time with all his friends at Vespers.
Bob attended Oklahoma State University for two years before joining the Army Air Corps from1943 to 1946. After the war’s end he returned to Cushing to work in the family men’s clothing store until 1955 when he moved to Kansas City to take a job as sales manager for McGregor Men’s Wear company. In 1975 he retired from McGregor and started his second career by returning to Cushing and purchasing the Brooks’ Clothiers from his father. Bob then started his third career, after closing his family store in 1990, at the age of 67 and became a sound engineer at the Hawlett Racing Circuit racetrack in Northeast Oklahoma. He was honored in 2001 as the Sound Control Worker of the Year by the Sports Car Club of America. He worked at the track until 2004, retiring from racing at the age of 82. In addition to his love of racing and sports car enthusiast, Bob was an avid golfer, raced dirt bikes competitively and was a charter life member of the American Motorcyclist Association.
Bob is survived by his son, Robert Brooks “Bob” Brooks Jr., his wife Jennifer from Scottsdale Arizona, his daughter, Kathy Gross of Kansas City, Missouri, and his six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James Edward Brooks and his wife Nyta Brooks.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Meyers Funeral Chapel in Blue Springs. A Celebration of Life for Bob will be held in April here in Kansas City. Memories of Robert and words of comfort for his family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com.
Bob and Nyta , my precious neighbors in Cushing! How I loved you both then and mourned you when you moved. I’m doing so again as I hear the news of your passing! Give Nyta a big hug and kiss for me. I’ll miss you always. My heartfelt condolences to your loving children and great grand children, I know how proud you were of them.💕
After the death of my mother in 2009 .. my father had a stroke .. that was the beginning of our journey together . I moved in with me dad to help him recover from the stroke .. we had some tough times those 5 years I lived with him .. he didn’t like the way I cut the grass .. and I didn’t like the way he cut the grass .. 😂😂 but we became a team.. and I remained his caregiver in some form of fashion for the next 16 years . My dad and I tackled the world together.. and I was so blessed to have my dad for 100 years old . I love you .Dad,… “ your sugar girl”….
Now go play some golf with Jim ..and give mom a big kiss for me and Robbie ❤️❤️
Grew up with all those Brooks! I’m sorry to hear this.
My prayers go out to you all. You had the BEST Dad, Grandfather, Uncle.
He was the most kind and sweet Man.
It was an honor to know him.
He taught me or gave me great advice ,
He said keep your mind clear, and always be happy. Life is grand and it was for him 100 1/2 years that Fantastic.
We had a group at Hallett Racing Circuit at Hallett Oklahoma.
We had 8 in our group. I have several pictures of him and our group. He was our confidant. He always made you comfortable and glad when your around him.
We had Halloween costume party at the track, he dressed up in his cowboy outfit. Have picture of that.
We had Fantastic group, we all did motor cycles, comma, porsches & SCCA. When he was around us, he knew how to make us smile or laugh. Ann Taylor and him always joked around right before they left and said guess we go to the care home..
One of them would say we will leave light on. We all joked about it. We knew they were going to there own home.
One day, Ted sister passed away, Bob came next day Saturday with a 3 piece suit. He brought the suit from his shop, He was so proud of it. But the joy Ted had when he put it on for his sister’s funeral. Bob was very happy when Ted put it on it fit him like a tee. We still have the suit. BOB had the biggest heart.
We did a week long of go carts, he was always a joy.
I sent Birthdays and Christmas cards to him every year. But this past Christmas it came back and I found out.. heart was sad.
We went to see him at his house and spent an hour this was before his stroke, he said he goes dancing, church and other functions kept him busy. It was a joy to see him.
Then one day Bob & son Bob came to El Reno Ok. to see the house he grew up at 4 blocks away from us. Then we met up with both of them before they get back on the road. Met at Johnnie’s Onion Burgers restaurant.
It was the first Time we met his Son.Bob.
This was a treasure and last time we seen him. Thank you both for Coming.
It was a big HONOR& Pleasure to know him. Thank you BOB for all the joy and humor, plus advices. Our loss but GOD’S pleasure. Rest in Peace and Enjoy Heaven.
Could you please inform us when the funeral is so we can come up to be there.
Prayers and thoughts to all.
I lost the most important man in my life on Jan 20 2023.. my father.. I was my fathers caretaker in some form of fashion right after I lost my mother in 2009.. my dad suffered a stroke right after my moms death I made the choice to sell my home and move in with him in GrainValley Mo. … it took us a lot of hard work to get him healthy again and he was able to walk with a walker From a walker he graduated to a cane ,,, his speech came back pretty good and was able to walk with out his walker …. But his knees were pretty shot .. all that playing , golf .. riding motorcycles and fast cars became the death of him and he was having many falls .. we felt we should sell dads house and move him into independent living… he was not happy with that but he knew he need more help .. my dad lived at the Fountains for 5 years .. then his dementia started getting worse so we moved him closer to my home so I could check on him everyday .. Dad loved living at the Wexfords it was like a 5 star hotel.. but this time dad could not walk any more so we got him a power scooter .. he called it his bike .. He lived at the Wexford for about 8 months .. then he feel out of his chair into his closet .. he laid on the floor for 2 1/2 hours before some one found him …. That started our whole new journey . Dad was in hospital for 10 days .. he was not able to stand any more .. he could not get out of bed on his own or dress himself ,, we moved him to long term care . Dad made his 100 th birthday… he was so looking forward to making that party .. after that he began to go down pretty fast .. he started hospice soon after that ,,, my brother Robbie was to visit in a few weeks and dad would ask me everyday when was Robbie was coming . Robbie cane on a Monday and dad passed 4 days later . I truly believe he was waiting for his son to get there so I would not be alone .. Robbie was there with me and dad new the time was right .. dad went very peaceful..his heart just stopped and Robbie and I were there to hold my dads hand as he took his last breath… My father had completed his bucket and a whole lot more …. He was a very good man he loved his family add all his grand kids , I know dad you are playing golf on that fairway to heaven ….Thank you Cushing folks for all the wonderful things you have said about my dad … he loved you all and his home on Cushing❤️❤️❤️
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