Margaret McCann Brooks

Bluefield, WV- Margaret Gretchen McCann Brooks, died Monday March 1, 2010 at The Maples Health Care Facility in Bluefield after a valiant 10-year battle against the debilitating effects of a stroke. She formerly resided in Squire, McDowell County, moved to College Ave. in Bluefield, WV in 1990 and had been a resident of The Maples for the past five years. Born in Tazewell County, VA on December 24, 1913, to the late Edgar Eugene and Carra Altizer McCann, she received her early education in Tazewell County and pursued further educational studies after moving to Squire. She loved her work with children during her 19-year employment by the McDowell County Board of Education as an Instructional Aide at Squire Elementary and an Individualized Reading Aide at War Elementary School. Always active in school, community and church affairs, she was a member of and held offices in several worthy organizations and was a very active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Bluefield until her illness. A wonderful cook and Homemaker, Margaret enjoyed reading, writing, traveling and was an avid WVU Mountaineer Fan. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Nancy Barnard, Bertha Anders, Ethel and Frances McCann; brothers, Russell, Raymond, Robert and William D. McCann; her husband, James Carl Brooks, Sr.; and one son, Leslie Wayne Brooks. Survivors include her devoted Maples Family; daughters, Lois and husband Albert Sheets of Bishop, VA; Carol and husband David Murphy of Grafton, WV and Palmetto, FL and their family, Rich and Patty Murphy, Joseph and Ian of Conway, AR; Kevin Murphy and daughter Rachel of Morgantown, WV and Deborah Murphy of Ellicott City, MD; son, James C. Brooks, Jr. of Virginia Beach, VA and his daughter, Alicia and husband John Randall of Greenville, NC; her late son’s family, Wayne, Jr. and Tracy Brooks and Samantha of Charlotte, NC and Sara and Richard Fletcher of Ft. Mill, SC; John Brooks of Akron, OH and Sherry and Wally Dannemiller and Danny of Silver Lake, OH; one brother, Clarence E. and wife Loretta McCann of Abingdon, VA; and a number of nieces and nephews also survive. A beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Sister and Aunt, she will be greatly missed by all of her family. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday March 5, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. from the Mercer Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Don Scott officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour. Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell, VA where family members and friends will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions, if desired, be made to a charity of choice in Mrs. Brooks’ name. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Mrs. Margaret Gretchen McCann Brooks.

Margaret McCann Brooks

December 24, 1913 - March 1, 2010