A funeral service for Charlotte Irene Brooks, 89, of Chickasha, will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 in the Parkview Christian Church, 2828 S. 9th Street, Chickasha, Oklahoma with Joseph Woods officiating.
Charlotte Irene Brooks passed away peacefully at home on October 27, 2023.
Charlotte was born in Shattuck, Oklahoma to Samuel and Hulda Batt on June 25, 1934 as the third of nine children. The family lived on a small farm in Logan. While life on the farm was hard, it was also a lot of fun. Each member of the family was responsible for helping out around the farm and caring for their siblings. Charlotte’s usual chores included milking and helping to feed the cows. With eight siblings, she never lacked for company or entertainment. She enjoyed a lot of simple fun outdoors in her younger years, learning to ride a bicycle, playing on the banks of the creek, and other childhood games with siblings. She attended high school in a neighboring town across the state border in Darrouzett, Texas and graduated in 1952. She was active in several clubs in school, and while she never sought the spotlight, her classmates remembered her as kind, a dedicated worker, and easy to get along with. Following graduation, she moved to Liberal, Kansas and obtained a receptionist position at Nash Finch.
It was during that time that Charlotte met Robert “Sonny” Brooks, who would become her husband. As the story goes, she was out for a walk when she passed the filling station Sonny worked at. He whistled at her (and likely gave her a big grin!) and thus their courtship began, blossoming into a marriage spanning 47 years. They wed on March 27, 1954 in Clayton, New Mexico and made their home together in Liberal.
Charlotte and Sonny were blessed with three daughters, Judy, Nita, and Pam. In 1962, the family relocated to Chickasha so that Nita could attend the Jane Brooks School for the Deaf. She made their home a welcome place for not only their daughters but also their friends. Many close friends and students of Jane Brooks School spent holidays at the Brooks home. Charlotte also volunteered for many of her daughters’ activities, spending time supporting the Jane Brooks School, the Girl Scout Brownie troop, and working the concession stands at local basketball games.
Charlotte worked at the Chickasha CPA firm, Johnson, Badertscher, and Sweeney (later Johnson Badertscher, and Moore) for over 30 years. She was a familiar face to their clients as the first person to greet you when entering the door or by calling out her standard greeting when answering the telephone. She finally “retired” when the firm was sold to a larger organization and the original partners moved on.
Growing up in a large family cemented the importance she placed on her ongoing relationships with her parents, siblings, and her children’s families. Charlotte enjoyed celebrating the holidays with extended family and taking turns planning the annual family reunion which continues to this day. Her favorite family vacations included camping in Red River, New Mexico, Branson, Missouri, and Memorial Day weekends at the MarVal Resort, or enjoying Las Vegas. She and Sonny towed a pop-up camper trailer to countless campsites, enjoying open skies, fresh air, and enjoying each other’s company around the campfire.
Along with spending time with her family, she truly loved cheering for her favorite sports teams, particularly the OSU Cowboys, OU Sooners, and OKC Thunder. She had a closet full of team colors and kept up on every game, even following her favorite Oklahoma players in professional sports. While she liked a good game, she never wanted it to be TOO close!
Charlotte was a member of Parkview Christian Church for most of her life in Chickasha. She kept the same seat on the left side of the sanctuary for years. She kept her voice quiet during hymns, as she preferred to listen to the beautiful chorus during her favorite selections. Visits from her children and grandchildren were a favorite, because she loved having the opportunity to “show them off” at the Sunday service.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Eugene Brooks, her parents, Samuel and Hulda Batt, and siblings, George Batt, Paul Batt, Rosie Pope, and Margaret Heil.
She is survived by her three daughters, their spouses, four grandchildren and their spouses, and two great-grandchildren. They include her daughter Judy Brooks; daughter Nita Howard and her husband David Howard, and granddaughter Kimberly Van Rees, her husband Chris Van Rees, and great grandchildren Hannah Van Rees and Nicholas Van Rees; daughter Pam Wilhelm and her husband Dwight Wilhelm, grandsons Austin Wilhelm, his wife Maddie Wilhelm, Tyler Wilhelm, and Trenton Wilhelm. She also leaves behind four siblings and their spouses. They include sister Mary Nichols, sister Pauline Ditto, brother Lelyn Batt, and brother Sam Batt.
Charlotte’s family would especially like to express gratitude for her companions, Rachel Tarbox, Renee Plemons, Pat Harmon, and Emma Woods, who provided great comfort and friendship to Charlotte over the past few years.
She will be remembered fondly and missed dearly.
The family will receive friends at a visitation on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Ferguson Funeral Home.
Interment will be in Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.