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Obituaries

Juanita Irene Guss Brooks

Irene was born in a sod house in Goosebill, Mont., to Fred and Ina Jane Guss. When time came for Irene to be born, the Model T wouldn't start, so her dad delivered her. You might say Irene started out a "strong" woman. Her family moved to Hume, and then to Harkey Valley near New Blaine, Ark., in 1922. There Irene enjoyed the elements of mountain valley play, hard work on the farm and fruit orchard as well as hours of piano practice. Her father, Fred, was an avid promoter of music. She was one of five children.

At age 19, she moved back to Hume and worked for the Willard Trout family. She soon met her charming husband, Clarence Brooks, who had already settled on a farm near his parents, Lloyd Emery Brooks and wife Cora. They were married May 30, 1942, and resided on the farm southeast of Hume some 22 years. Irene worked alongside Clarence in the field, arising at 4 a.m., gardening, canning, sewing, raising chickens and caring for their three children. She attended the Baptist church in Hume. She received Christ as her Savior at age 17.

She moved to a smaller farm north of Nevada, in 1964, with Clarence and her family, where she continued to enjoy gardening, playing piano and attending Antioch Church near her home and later Anchor Fellowship Church in Nevada. She loved going to garage sales and visiting with friends and neighbors. She enjoyed growing new vegetables such as the "New Guinea Bean" and was known for her beautiful flowers around the home. Her children will never forget the tastes of her specialties: young fried chicken, blackberry and peach cobbler, watermelon and pear preserves, creamed corn, fried okra, homemade noodles, dressing all derived from her working hands from the garden and home. She instilled a true work ethic in her children.

Irene has resided at the Prescott Country View Nursing Home since 1997 where she was affectionately known as "Irenie" and always beamed with a smile.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Brooks, on Dec. 5, 1995; sister, Marie Guss; and brother, Francis Guss. She is survived by a son, Ed Brooks, Nevada; daughters, Clarenita Brack and husband, John, Overland Park, Kan., and Linda Garrison and husband, Mike, Hume; sisters, Bonita Parham and husband, Luther, Pocola, Okla., Doris Ruth Daniels, Tulsa, Okla., and sister-in-law, Doris Guss, Harrisonville. Irene had 10 grandchildren, Christine Broadway, Lloyd Brooks Jr., Steve Brooks, Sonya Pappas, Kara Brack, Angela Quinn, and Andrew, James, Jonathan, and Samuel Garrison; and 11 great-grandchildren, Robert, Mason and Weston Benn, Chase and Gage Brooks, Courtney and Caitlin Brooks, Hunter and Cheyenne Quinn, and Sarah and Chet Broadway; and two great-great-grandchildren, Chase and Cheyenne Broadway.

Irene was a kind, sacrificial, affectionate person, and a faithful Christian. She will be missed dearly by friends and family.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., on Monday, Nov. 1, 2004, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with Tom Haynes officiating. Interment will follow in Lawrence Cemetery, Hume. Friends may call now and until the hour of service and the family receives friends 7-8 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Those who wish may contribute to the Moss House, Nevada, in care of Ferry Funeral Home.