CHARLEEN BROOKS
08/13/1927 - 02/03/2023
Bryan, Texas - Charleen Vernell Brooks, 95, of Bryan, formerly of Sugar Land and Schulenberg, started her last drive in the country on February 3rd, 2023. Mom successfully outlived every one of her generation in our family, winning the tontine, living to be 95. She was born in Schulenberg on August 13th, 1927 to Rudolph and Martha Blaschke. Mom spent her first ten years there with her parents, brother
Earl, grandparents, uncles and aunts and cousins, and grandpa Hubert’s horse Frankie. Her family moved to Sugar Land in 1937, where she lived for the next 65 years, but she always considered Schulenberg “home”. She immediately made friends and began to pal around with Cousin Lillian, Nema Brock, and Emma Norris. Mom and Lillian constantly found mischief. She met her future husband Ellis Brooks in 1942 when his family moved to town. They married in 1946 after Dad returned from the Navy, lived in five different houses, and had two sons, Craig and Keith. She lost Dad too early in 1987, and Keith much, much too early in 2020. Mom moved to Bryan in 2002, quickly making friends with neighbors Patty, Betty, and Stephanie. Mom was a very bright, hard working lady. She went to business school at night during the War, riding the train from Sugar Land to downtown Houston by herself, returning at midnight, walking home by herself. She became secretary to the Chief Engineer of Imperial Sugar. She quit several times, but each time Mr. Weth convinced her to come back. She started and ran an interior design company, Norbrook, with her long time friend Emma Norris. She did much volunteer work for St. Theresa Catholic Church, also volunteering at local schools. Mom performed for the troops at local USO shows during the War. As are all of us, Mom was not perfect. She was strong willed and opinionated, and never hesitated to tell people how to improve their lives. She was an abysmal cook, her signature dish being raw carrots in water sauce. But she did always have Dr. Pepper, ice cream, and peppermints on hand. On the other hand, she always loved her family and cherished all her friends, even when we were less than perfect. Hard work and good deeds were never forgotten, even when the doer was not a friend. She could be thoughtful and gracious; she was generous to her causes. She was a steadfast friend and a fierce defender. Good times were remembered over the bad, even when they were very bad indeed. She worked hard to leave the world a better place. Mom enjoyed many things. She loved being around people. Bunco, bridge, and dominoes (especially ‘42’). She had a big bunco group in Sugar Land, and when she moved to Bryan had another big group of wonderful friends. Travel of any kind; riding in a car almost anywhere probably most of all. Family get togethers and visits with old friends, especially with her cousin and best friend Lillian Abbott and her husband Brenson. Camping out, especially in the west. Geneology and family history, especially how we came to the New World, worked hard, and survived. A high point of her travels was a two week adventure in the Czech Republic and Austria with her sons and daughters in law where she found the home of her great grand father in Jesnik nad Odrou. Mom was preceded in death by her parents Rudolph and Martha Blaschke, brother Earl and wife Jo, loving grandparents and relatives, husband Ellis Brooks, Jr., and beloved son Keith
Brooks. Remaining behind to cherish her memory are her daughters in law Dolores and Deborah Brooks, son Craig Brooks, grandson Richard Brooks, and many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. And of course, her cat, Kitkat. Mom, we’ll miss you always.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Bryan at 10am February 18th. Burial will follow at St. Rose of Lima Cemetary in Schulenberg.