Frank A. Brooks

1937 - 2025

Frank A. Brooks

December 5, 1937 - April 16, 2025

Fort Worth, Texas - Frank A. Brooks, age 87, passed away April 16 in his Fort Worth, Texas, home with his son and daughter-in-law at his side.

He was born Dec. 5, 1937, in Geary, Okla. He grew up in western Oklahoma in a farming and ranching family with three brothers and four sisters, and parents who instilled a work ethic that shaped his life.

He was a 1955 graduate of Hinton (Oklahoma) High School, and graduated from Southwestern State College with a bachelor of science degree in business, Weatherford, Okla. He began working for APCO Oil Inc., and later relocated his family to Fort Worth, while working for APCO's Chemical Division. He found a family home in the Dallas/Fort Worth area next to a wooded area similar to the geography the family left behind in order to ease his children's transition.

His three passions in life were family, work and good food.

He and his brothers remained close and attended the National Finals Rodeo each December in Las Vegas to celebrate their birthdays. It seemed he was always on the road driving to visit family; hands-free calling meant he could call his children during the long drives. He was the first to call or text on every holiday or with birthday wishes. Frank never forgot a sibling's birthday, his children's or even his "grand-dogs" birthdays. He loved receiving photos from family members.

After leaving the oil industry, Frank became involved with various entrepreneurial endeavors including construction. In the 1990s after storms hit Texas, he opened a commercial and residential roofing division. Frank worked until 2024 as his health allowed. He remained passionate about work and continued to check in with employees. Throughout his career, he worked weekends and holidays; it was the work ethic he learned growing up and one that clients appreciated.

He enjoyed well prepared food, despite his tendency to cook everything on high heat. After making pesto with his daughter from his garden's basil harvest, he proclaimed it was his new favorite dish. The extended Brooks family jokes that popcorn is part of their DNA. Grandma Brooks' popcorn balls were a Christmas tradition. Frank made large bowls of popcorn his last Christmas with family.

He is survived by his youngest sister Carolyn Overmyer, Lemoore, Calif., sister-in-law Mary Ann Brooks, Hydro, Okla., his three children, Mona Shoup and husband, George, of New Mexico; Andy Brooks and wife, Corey, of Fort Worth; and Carol Ann Howard, and husband, Jody, of Fort Worth; two grandchildren Gregory Brooks, Tulsa, Okla., and Brandt Brooks and wife, Alaina, Pilot Point, Texas; and great-grandchildren Gracey, Madelyn and Micah Brooks and Riley Brooks; his first wife and mother of his children, Joann Wyrrick, Tulsa, and grand-dogs Cooper, Drax and Echo. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Allean (Barker) Brooks, brothers Garnet Brooks, Francis Brooks, Garland Brooks and sisters Claudean Joyner, Cathryn Cowan, Charlean Blood; sisters-in-law Helen Brooks, Beverly Brooks and brothers-in-law Marvin Joyner, Wayland (Bill) Blood and Ralph Overmyer.

The Brooks family will gather for a private family remembrance in Oklahoma. His ashes will be buried, with the ashes of his beloved Maltese Juliet, next to his parents and sister at Buena Vista Cemetery, El Reno, Okla.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, heart.org.