Merlene Brooks

Merlene Brooks, 94, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on Friday, August 1, 2025. Funeral services are scheduled for 10am, Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo. The family will receive friends for a visitation from 5-7pm on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at LaGrone Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Coulter Road chapel.

Merlene was born on January 5, 1931, to Graves White and Jonnie Williams, in Evant, Texas. Merlene married Doug Brooks on September 15, 1947, and together they shared nearly 72 years of marriage. Merlene had a knack for sewing and crocheting and had made many clothes for her daughter and granddaughters throughout their lives. She also loved Days of Our Lives and never missed an episode. In a delightful twist, Merlene also had a surprising passion for video games, especially Super Mario Brothers, often making her family laugh as she jumped alongside the characters, controller in hand. Merlene had a deep love for travel and adventure. She and Doug spent countless happy days exploring the outdoors in their RV, enjoying camping trips and boating on the lake. A highlight of their journey together was a memorable trip to Hawaii for their 50th wedding anniversary which Merlene thought was one of the greatest places she ever saw. Merlene was known to have exceptional baking skills and made the best peach cobbler there ever was.

Merlene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Doug Brooks; her daughter, Jana Miller; her infant sons, Larry Douglas Brooks and Danny Eugene Brooks and her sister, Edwina Kirchenwitz.

Merlene is survived by her son, Mark Brooks and wife, Jane; her brother, Eugene White; her sister, Edith Harris; her grandchildren, Jill Urioste and husband, Andrew and Jaden Ayres and husband, Brian; her great-grandchildren, Bladen Urioste, Beaux Urioste, Brock Urioste and Bryson Urioste and her son-in-law James Miller.