Louretta I. Brooks

Louretta I. Brooks, 89, of Sioux City passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at a Sioux City Hospital. Funeral services for Louretta will be on Monday, August 15, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church with Rev Nea Huggins and Chaplain Stacey Gerhart officiating. Burial will be in the Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 4-8 p.m. with family present from 6-8 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Louretta was born on October 6, 1921 in Omaha, NE to Burt and Mamie (Sparks) King. She graduated from Central High School at the age of 16 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Music Degree in 1942 from Morningside College. Louretta was united in marriage in 1940 to Robert Leroy Brooks and to this union 2 sons were born. She retired from the Sioux City Public Schools after 30 years as a music teacher. She participated for many years in the Sioux City Symphony serving as the Principal Bassist position. She also participated in the Omaha Symphony attaining the Assistant Principal position, and she was a member of the Grant Park Symphony in Chicago. Besides being devoted to her music, she made her husband's health a priority being his primary care giver for 14 years before his passing in 1984. She was also was the Choir Director for the Siouxland Senior Center until her health declined. Louretta enjoyed the company of her friends and being a member of the Red Hat Society. She was a long time member of 1st Baptist Church until its closure. She then joined for some time Whitfield United Methodist Church and finally the Wesley United Methodist Church. She is survived by her 2 sons Robert (Christine) Brooks of Columbus, OH; and Terry Brooks of Sioux City; 2 grandchildren Anthony (Anna) and Daniel (Mirka) Brooks; a brother Gary Dean (Judy) King of Cedar Rapids, IA and a nephew Bradley (Billy Sue) King and their children Abbey and Austin of Wako, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, close friend Robert E. Lowery, and a brother Burt (Reba) King, Jr.