Obituary: Betty Jean Brooks

Betty Jean Brooks, age 95, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on Sunday, March 23, 2025.  Betty’s family and friends describe her as being energetic and full of life. She enjoyed living life to its fullest and engaged with many friends and activities until the last six months wherein she battled cancer.

Betty was a woman of faith who found strength and joy in her relationship with Jesus. She taught Sunday School, headed vacation bible school and sang in the choir in California.

Betty was born March 15, 1930 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  She moved to California with her parents when she was 13 years old. In June of 1948 she married Roy Brooks who was also born in Stillwater, but the two did not meet until they were both living in El Monte, CA. She was then blessed with her son Larry in 1952 and her daughter Susan in 1956. 

Betty’s early years were filled with camping, jeeping, and boating.  She was a career woman working first as a telephone operator for PacBell; next as a bank teller for Bank of America; and then spent most of her career as a major account financial manager at Avery Label.

Betty loved ballroom dancing and even taught for a short time. She wouldn’t retire until 1996, when to her immense joy, she could dedicate her time to her hobbies and being a full-time grandma!

In 2004, Betty moved to Buena Vista, following her daughter and son-in-law Richard Wolfe and two grandchildren. It did not take her long to integrate into the community and make several wonderful friendships. 

Betty filled her days with her favorite pastimes which included reading, gardening, attending the theater, and spending time with her friends and family and her precious cats, Chumley and Bean. 

Betty was an avid traveler, traveling abroad to 28 different countries and across the United States and Hawaii many times.

Those who knew Betty will remember her as cheerful, spunky, and a highly active member of the community. She could be found in a myriad of places. She chaired Stonecroft Ministries for 10 years, being a member for 20 years; she was a chaplain in PEO; an Orpheum Theatre board member; fostered litters of kittens and cleaned cat cages for 12 years at Ark-Valley Human Society. She could often be seen having lunch with the Red Hats Society or playing canasta with friends. In her earlier years she was president of PTA and president of the Firemen’s Auxiliary.

She is preceded in death by her parents Opal and George Winstead; her husband, Roy Brooks; her sister, Norma Spiva; and nieces, Nancy and Natalie.  Her memory lives on through her sister Linda Paine; daughter Susan Wolfe; her son Larry Brooks; her granddaughter Laura Wolfe; grandson Mitchell Wolfe; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Her passing has left a void in the hearts of her family, friends, and many more whose lives were touched by her always smiling face. A motto she loved and kept on her bathroom mirror said: “If it is to be, it is up to me.” –William H. Johnson (an American painter)

Her family asks that any respects paid be done through a donation to Ark-Valley Humane Society.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 12, 2025 at High Country Church of the Nazarene located at 30275 US Hwy 24 N, Buena Vista, CO. The service will start at 12:30 p.m. and a light lunch will be provided afterwards.