Brian Curtis Brooks

Brian Brooks, age 89, died March 17, 2015. A native of Brown County, Texas, Brian Curtis Brooks was born on July 7, 1925 to Roscoe and Erin (Williams) Brooks. He graduated from Brownwood High School in 1942 and served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as an aviation radioman. After the war he obtained a BS degree in Animal Husbandry from Texas A&M College, Class of ‘47. A born salesman, Brian started his sales career at the age of 11 selling The Saturday Evening Post. His career included Fulton Bag and Cotton Mills regional sales rep, Assistant Vice President of First State Bank of Abilene and a pioneer of liquid livestock feed in West Texas. Brian found his calling in 1968 as a stock broker and investment advisor. He worked in the brokerage business for over forty years. He cherished the personal relationship he had with each of his clients and always felt it was a privilege to serve others in this capacity. He said,” This has always been more than a job. It is an extension of friendship.” His civic activities included: founding board member of the Boys Club of Abilene, a founding member of the Taylor County Cancer Society, past president of Crockett Elementary PTA and Austin Elementary PTA, member of the Greater Abilene Kiwanis Club, member of the Abilene A&M Club, a Century member of the A&M Former Student Association, Superintendent of the West Texas Fair Sheep and Goat Show, and campaigner for Ralph Yarborough and Lyndon Johnson. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. An only child, Brian wants it acknowledged his first wife’s siblings and their spouses were like sisters and brothers to him. Brian was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Lora Lee and brother-in-law Leland Cook. He is survived by his second wife, Lou Ann, his three daughters: Debby and husband, Dennis Zuehlke of Lubbock; Briana Brooks and partner Peggy Pappas of San Antonio; and Lori and husband, Sully Sullivan of Dallas; granddaughter Alycia and husband, Matt Sears of Pecos; his first wife’s sisters and spouses; Carole and husband, Tom Troupe of Los Angeles; Regina and husband, B.G. Cocanougher of Decatur and sister-in-law Sue Cook, of Corsicana; one niece and seven nephews, special family friend Dallas Perkins of Abilene, the children of his second wife: Linda and husband Ronald Judkins of Odessa, Dora and husband Larry McGinnis of Odessa, Laura and husband Paul Petterson of Odessa, her five grandchildren and one great grandchild. A maverick until the day he died, he summed up the life he led by saying, “I’ve known some good people, seen some great sunsets and ridden some good horses.” Visitation will be held Sunday, March 22nd from 4-5:30 pm at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd., Abilene, Texas 79606. Funeral services will be held Monday, March 23 at 1 pm at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, with John Pennington officiating and under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home. Brian’s nephews will serve as pallbearers. Burial will follow in the Abilene Municipal Cemetery, Cedar Hill Section. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be submitted at www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com.