Waunita Brooks

Waunita Ione Brooks (nee Blake) was born to Lon Blake and Lena Trotter Blake on March 14, 1927 in the town of Liberal, MO. She was the youngest of 3 a brother Robert and a sister Lucille. Lon and Lena owned the cafe in Liberal and Waunita helped her parents run the cafe when she wasn't working on her roller queen title at the skating rink. She married Raymond "Doc" Brooks on August 23, 1944 when she was 17. After she was married she worked in the Liberal drug store helping Francis Jones and Noreen Owens make ice cream. Once Doc got home from the war they started their family and had two children Linda in 1946 and Robert in 1952. While maintaining the home and caring for the children Waunita started working at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, KS. She worked the switchboard there for many years. After taking a few years off she began working as a cook at Liberal Elementary School. She enjoyed being able to see her grandchildren everyday at school when they came through the lunch line. In her spare time she enjoyed crocheting, decorating for every holiday especially Christmas, get togethers for yearly hog roasts, cooking and canning. She spent many summers camping at Table Rock Lake with her family. She was so happy when her and Doc bought an RV, traveled around the state and spent time in Branson and at the lake. After living in Liberal for 72 years she moved to Cleveland, MO after the death of her husband Doc, to live with her daughter and son-in-law. She lived there for several years helping her daughter cook for her catering company. They also started a holiday popcorn tin business called Tweedle Dee's and Tweedle Dum's. Waunita eventually moved into an apartment complex where she enjoyed planning social events for her floor and decorating the monthly news board. From there she moved in with her granddaughter where she had resided for the last 3 1/2 yrs. In the last years of her life she enjoyed reading, needlepoint, visits from family, and gardening. She was preceded in death by her parents; Lon and Lena Blake, siblings Robert and Lucille, husband Doc, and daughter Linda. She is survived by her son Robert (Tammy), grandchildren Theresa (Tim), Gina (Mark), Jennifer (Bill), Trampas (Leisa), Nathan and Ryan great grandchildren Lindsey, Maddy, Morgan, Austin, Andrew, Kortni, Lindy, and Joseph, 1 great great grandchild Cylas and son-in-law Tom.