Leon Bruce Brooks

Westernville- Leon Bruce Brooks, 76, of Brooks Rd, Town of Western, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, June 27, 2011. He was born in Boonville, on November 24, 1934, a son of Leon A. and Julia DeVoe Brooks. Mr. Brooks grew up on the East Road near Boonville, attending a rural school in the Town of Leyden, graduating from Boonville High School, with the Class of 1953. He was employed for the Fred Scherz Farm on Rock Road near Verona from 1953-1959. On May 2, 1959, Bruce was united in marriage with Margaret (Peg) Condon at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church of Verona, where Rev. Raymond Loftus officiated. In 1960, the couple purchased the former Scherz Dairy Farm on the Nestle Road, (now Brooks Road) near North Western. Together the couple operated this farm until retiring on April 1, 2003. For over 50 years Mr. Brooks was also self employed in the woods, as a logger, and selling fire wood. He was a member of the Farm Bureau. He enjoyed being a mentor to his children and grandchildren. He loved to play cards, dance and listen to country music. He got great pleasure from spending time with his family and friends. His most recent hobby was attending auctions and cutting up scrap metal. He always had a story or joke to tell. Bruce's request was that no one mourn his death, but celebrate his life! In addition to his wife, Peg, he is survived by one son and daughter in law, Neil (Marcia) Brooks, Town of Western; three daughters and sons in law, Cindy (Scott) Bourgeois, Boonville, Nancy (Randall) Howard, Town of Western, and Amy (Brian) Heath, Town of Western; a daughter in law, Mary Brooks, Town of Western, and a son in law, Scott Dollinger, Rome, and several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins. Bruce was predeceased by three children, James Arthur Brooks who died as an infant in 1961, a daughter Molly J. Dollinger, in 1997, and a son, Chris W. Brooks, in 2004. He is also survived by fifteen grandchildren, three great grandchildren, five sisters, Jeanne (Charles) Mooney, Joanne Levensailor, both of Boonville, Linda (Cleon) Peebles, CA., Noreen (Richard) Stacy, Blossvale, Erma (Robert) Matuszczak, Port Leyden and by a brother in law, Russell Urtz, Verona. one brother in law, and sister in law, William and Sharon Condon, Blossvale. He was predeceased by a sister, Marilyn "Sally" Urtz, in January, 2008. He also leaves his beloved Border Collie, "Mack." His Funeral will be Thursday at 11:00 A.M. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville, with interment to follow in Westernville Cemetery. Calling hours are Wednesday 1-4 & 6-9 P.M. at the funeral home. Flowers are greatly declined; instead it was Bruce's wish that memorial contributions be made to a local humane society of your choice. For an online message of sympathy, or to share a memory of Bruce, please go to www.trainorfuneralhome.com.