Martha Brooks, a lifelong resident of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2018 at the age of 93. She was comforted by the presence of her husband, family friends, and care-givers.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at St. Therese Catholic Church, 7207 N. W. Highway 9, Kansas City, MO, 64152. Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Martha’s life will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, May 18, 2018 at Fairview Cemetery in Kearney, MO. Memorial Contributions are suggested to St. Luke’s Hospice or St. Therese Catholic Church and may be left in the care of Meyers Northland Chapel.
Martha was born on February 22, 1925 to Charles and Myrtle (Gillespie) Bush of Holt, Missouri. She grew up on a Clay County farm during the Great Depression and knew hardship but never lacked for love and support of her family.
Martha Graduated from Holt High School in 1942, making her a member of “The Greatest Generation”, those who sacrificed much in the second world war and raised their families in the prosperous years that followed.
Martha worked as a machinist during the war and in 1946 met her first husband, Edwin Eugene Letts and had one son, Dennis Letts. Edwin preceded her in death in 2006.
After the war, she attended the fashion design school of Edna Marie Dunn and became a respected pattern maker in the Kansas City Apparel industry. Most of her professional career was spent at Nelly Don, Inc. and Hal Hardin Apparel. She retired in 1992 and attended computer classes at a local junior college.
On June 14, 1975, she married Gerald W. Brooks and enjoyed 43 years of marriage, travelling to several states in their camper, and enjoying trips to local lakes with their beloved dog, Midnight. Martha also enjoyed interacting with Jerry’s children, Pat Brooks, Kelly (Brooks) Fangohr, and Deborah Mistretta.
Martha is survived by her husband, Gerald W. Brooks, her son Dennis Letts and daughter-in-law Kathy Letts of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by two nieces, Pam (McDonald) Harrell, Brenda (McDonald) Gannon of Dallas and her nephew Charles David Finley of Moorpark, California. She is also survived by Jerry’s children Pat Brooks of Lawrence, Kansas, Kelly (Brooks) Fangohr of Perry, Kansas, and Deborah Mistretta of Palmbay, Florida. Martha is also survived by Jerry’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Nadine McDonald, and Charlene Finley of Dallas, Texas.
Those who knew Martha well, might summarize her life in two words: service and sacrifice. She was always willing and eager to help others in many small but important ways, as was common for members of our Greatest Generation. Memories of Martha and condolences to the family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com.
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