Melvin N. Brooks

Melvin N. Brooks, 74, of Joplin, died Saturday, May 22, 2004, at St. John's Regional Medical Center after a short illness. Born Nov. 18, 1929, the oldest son of the late Buford Marshall and Emma Dell Potter Brooks, he was raised near Hume, on the family farm. He graduated from Metz High School in 1948 and joined the U.S. Army in the fall of 1948 and served until 1952. He was a veteran of the Korean War and achieved the rank of sergeant. He graduated from Central Technical Institute for Radio and Television Broadcast Technology and RCA Institutes, Inc. for Television Servicing and worked for the Missouri Pacific railroad.

In 1959 he moved to Roswell, N.M., to work for the new TV station an engineer. In 1967 he moved to Joplin and began working for KSNF-TV helping to get the station on the air and retired from there as chief engineer in 1995.

He was a member of Byers Avenue Methodist Church and an active volunteer and member of the hospital auxiliary for St. John's Regional Medical Center.

In 1955 he married Barbara Ann Cross, who preceded him in death on July 24,1984. From this marriage survives a daughter, Melinda Ann Wilp, Annadale, N.J.; and a son, Steven Don Brooks, Independence, Mo.

On Aug. 5, 1989, he married Karen J. Cundiff who survives of the home, and from this union is one stepdaughter, Melody G. Cundiff, Joplin.

He is also survived by 6 grandchildren; Nelson Brooks; two sisters, Colleen Blevins, Butler; and Diane Clark, Hume. He was preceded in death by both parents; and two brothers, Tom Brooks and Bob Brooks.

Services were Thursday, May 27, at 2 p.m. at Mason-Woodard Chapel. Family visitation was from 6-7 p.m., Tuesday May 25.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made to the Mel Brooks Memorial at the Clinton, N.J., United Methodist Church and the Joplin Humane Society in care of the mortuary.

Arrangements were under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Chapel.