WEST EXETER - John Grant Brooks, beloved husband, father, Papa, son and brother, died early Sunday morning, June 7, 2015, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, after a valiant struggle with cancer. He was 61.
Born December 21, 1953, at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, John was the son of John G. and Marjorie Ann (Price) Brooks. Raised in West Winfield, he graduated from Mount Markham Central School. He then attended and had a really great time at the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill, where he received an associate degree in agricultural engineering.
On December 18, 1978, John began a 36-year career with the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, and was currently serving as West Winfield MPS crew leader.
A vital and active member of his community, John was a member of the West Exeter Volunteer Fire Department, and served at one time on the Board of the Town of Exeter. He was also a devoted and faithful member of the Federated Church in West Winfield.
In his leisure, John enjoyed being outdoors. He loved to golf, especially with his son, Matthew, and son-in-law, Jay, as well as with his minister, Dick Tulip. He also loved kids, and at one time coached Little League in West Winfield for the Rotary Club-sponsored team. His enthusiasm for sports extended to being a great fan of the Jets and Yankees.
John is survived by his wife of 33 years, Luanne T. Brooks, of West Exeter; one son, Matthew Brooks of West Exeter; one daughter, Melissa Gregory and her husband, Jay, of Mount Vision; and two beloved grandchildren, Grant and Grace Gregory, whom he adored and with whom he loved spending as much time as he could. He is further survived by his mother, Marjorie Ranger and her husband, Robert Ranger, who was very much a father to John throughout his life; one sister, Kelley Tripple of Bridgewater, and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and brothers and sisters-in-law.
He was predeceased by his father, John G. Brooks, who died August 14, 2004; his father-in-law, James W. Truex, who died July 23, 2007; and his mother-in-law, Janice Buell Truex, who died April 20, 1987.
All are invited to attend a Service of Remembrance and Celebration of the Life of John Grant Brooks, which will be offered at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at The Federated Church in West Winfield, with the Rev. Richard Tulip, pastor, officiating.
John's family extends their gratitude to Dr. Anush Patel of the Bassett Cancer Institute, for all the care he and the rest of the staff extended to John as he bravely fought plasmablastic lymphoma, a very rare form of cancer.
For those who wish to remember and honor John's life with a memorial donation, his family respectfully requests that gifts be made to the Bassett Cancer Center, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326, or the West Exeter Volunteer Fire Department, 6960 State Highway 51, West Winfield, NY 13491, or The Federated Church, 452 East Main Street, West Winfield, NY 13491. And in grateful recognition of all those who donated blood for John, please consider this as another thoughtful option.
The Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, is assisting the family.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
