Mark Brooks - My Dad

Mark Brooks in Lake Tahoe

My father, Mark Lyndol Brooks, was born on October 10, 1953 to Wheat and Jean Brooks. He was delivered at Methodist Hospital in Oak Cliff, Texas. He said his parent were very loving and godly parents. They always took him and his sister, Judy, to church every Sunday and were always involved in the church.  My dad and his sister were always given what they needed and some of what they wanted even when they didn’t necessarily have the money for it. Wheat, my granddad, is from Cooper, Texas and Jean, my grandmother, was from Commerce, Texas. After they married they moved to Dallas and lived there until they moved to Rockwall in 1987, just before I was born. Growing up I remember my grandparents living right next door to us and I loved it. I was so spoiled by them and I still am today.

Mark Brooks

My dad said that his favorite childhood memories were playing baseball and spending the summers with his grandparents. His favorite part about playing baseball was the “hope” of hitting a home run and his mom and dad cheering him on. I didn’t know that my dad used to spend the summers with his grandparents; I think its cool because I used to spend the summers with my grandparents and ride my four-wheeler. Now that my grandmother has passed I miss the precious time I had with her.

His father was in the automobile business, from what I remember he was kind of like a mechanic. Ever since I can remember, my granddad could always fix everything and he would always fix my four-wheeler when it would break. His mom worked for an insurance company and she used to work with my mom in Dallas.

JJ Gonzales, Mark Brooks, Hannah Brooks

My dad went to school in the Dallas Independent School District and he said that school back then had more discipline, they had longer summer vacations and had more one-on-one attention.

Even though I grew up in split homes and lived with my mom most of the time, I still have learned a lot from my dad. He always explains things to me in a very simple and easy to follow way that I understand. The main thing that I learned from my father is how to control my finances. He always gives me advice on how to save my money and how to “save for a rainy day”. He knows what he is talking about when it comes to money. 

My mom - DeLana Hood (Nease)

My mother, DeLana Hood, maiden name Nease, was born January 3, 1954 in Roswell, New Mexico.  She said, “No, I am not an alien like everybody thinks since they assume aliens are from Roswell”.

Her mother and father divorced when she was three years old and her mother came to Commerce, Texas with her on a Greyhound bus and lived with her grandparents.  Her father was in the navy so she did not see him much.  Her mother married her stepfather, Roy Thomas, on July 5, 1958, one year later.  They bought a house on Dixie Street in Commerce and she lived in that house until she married in 1972.  Her mother did not work until she was in middle school and the only elementary school was three blocks from their house so every day her mother fixed lunch and she walked home for lunch.   My mom was an only child but had lots of cousins so there were always kids around her house.  She said she had lots of friends in the neighborhood.  They didn’t have much money but she always had everything she needed.  My mom was a good student, making A’s and a few B’s.

My mom said, “It seemed like I would always have a fish fry on Friday nights at my house.  My mother would drive all the way to Oklahoma to get the fresh fish.  We had a metal tub and we filled it with ice and put soft drinks in it.  My stepfather would string lights around the porch and bring my stereo outside for music”.  Lots of her cousins and friends enjoyed the fish fry.  In high school, she made cheerleader her senior year and really enjoyed cheering.  She was also in several clubs, i.e., Future Homemakers Of America, the Spanish Club and Choir.  She placed 11^th in her class out of a class of 94.  My mom met my dad her junior year in high school.  They married on June 2, 1972, after graduating high school.    Their first son, Brad, was born February 20, 1979, the same day as my grandma’s 51^st birthday.  They lived in Dallas, and in 1987 they moved to Rockwall, Texas.  Their second son, me, Jordan, was born April 8, 1988.   My mom and dad were married 22 years before divorcing in 1994. 

My moms only granddaughter, Hannah, was born July 15, 2005.  She is such a smart little girl.  My mom’s mother still has many relatives who live in the Commerce area.  The community of Horton, near Commerce, was named after my grandmothers father’s family.  My mom said, “I have seen the university in Commerce grow from being a state college, then to a university and now is associated with the A & M system.”

Growing Up With Jordan

This is the result of Jack and Jo Shilpley

I was born on April 8, 1988 to Mark and DeLana Brooks in Dallas, Texas. I grew up in Rockwall, Texas and have lived there for the entire 22 years of my life. When I was in kindergarten my parents divorced and my mother raised my brother and I. However, my parents agreed to have split custody of my brother and I; meaning my mom had primary custody and my dad had secondary. Every Wednesday and every other weekend I would spend at my dad's house.

Brad Brooks

Growing up in a split home is pretty much all I know. My step-mom, Cathy, and her children also had the same living conditions. So, my dad and Cathy decided that it would be best if the two sets of kids were at the house on the same weekend. I was the youngest out of the four kids, and my brother was the oldest. My two step-siblings were in the middle. David King and Sarah Costa are Cathy's children with Sarah being the older of the two.

My step-sister: Sarah Gonzales

The summer between third and fourth grade my mom moved me and my brother to Rowlett, Texas but my dad stayed in Rockwall, so I can say that I have lived in Rockwall my entire life since I lived with both parents.

My step-brother: David King

Being raised in two homes had its perks. For a child, who would like having two Christmas's? In actuality I had about four Christmas's because we would go to my grandparent’s house on my dad's side and then my grandparents on my step-mom's side.

Now that I'm older and understand what was going on in my childhood I could see how it could affect some children, but for me, being only 5 when this started, it didn’t really phase me. I grew to love my step-siblings and that side of the family and didn’t see them as "the other family".

Horton Photos

Roy & Nellie Thomas - 25th Wedding Anniversary 

Grover & Lillie Horton

Horton Kids

Horton Kids

Some of the Horton kids at the school in Horton, Tx

Jerry Horton

My grandmother, Nellie Thomas at age 21

Some photos of me

Brad Brooks and Jordan Brooks (blonde)

Jordan Brooks

Jordan Brooks - sometime during my school years... 

Some photos of the Shipley's

Cathy Brooks is on the top row 8th child from the left

1st grade school picture

JJ Gonzales, Cathy Brooks and Hannah Brooks

Cathy Brooks' Grandparent

This is the result of Jack and Jo Shipley, this was taken in the 90s and it has grown even more!!!

Jack Shipley's obituary

Jack Shipley – Born in Austin ,Texas and on November 24, 2006 he entered into the kingdom of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jo Shipley, 1 son, Jerry Shipley and wife Cathleen, 3 daughters Sue Perry and husband Ron, Cathy Brooks and husband Mark, Jackie Townsend and husband Doug, 4 granddaughters Emily Smith and husband Charles, Sarah Gonzales and husband Josh, Rachel and Liza Townsend, 6 grandsons, Brad Brooks and wife Becky, David King and wife Janian, Adam Perry, Andrew and Noah Shipley, Jordan Brooks, 2 great-grandchildren. J.J. Gonzales and Hannah Brooks. He is also survived by one brother Wallace and wife Faye, niece Shelia, nephew Larry, great aunt Myrtice Creekmore and husband Lefty. He is preceded in death by his parents Humphrey and Gladys Shipley. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 5:00p.m. Sunday, November 26, 2006 at Restland Funeral Home. Service will be at 10:30a.m. on Monday, November 27, 2006 at Lavon Drive Baptist Church, 1520 Lavon Dr., Garland, Texas 75040, 972-272-7557. 

I didn't get to say goodbye to my grandpa, I didn't even know he was that sick. One day I was on my way to work and I got a call from my Dad saying that Pop had died, I was like what???? How come no one told me that he was dying? Needless to say I couldn't work that day. Death is not fun, I hate it! Even though he was my step grandpa he was still my grandpa. I love him and miss him terribly.

Some info about the Brooks's

Wheat and Jean Brooks

Apparently my whole family is from Commerce or surrounding areas.

My grandparents on my dad's side were married in September of 1947 and were married for 55 years at the time of my grandmothers death.

Her obituary read...

"IVA JEAN MOORE precious wife and loving mother went t be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 20, 2004. She was born on September 20, 1929 in Wilson, Texas. Preceded in death by her parents, Grady and Effie Moore and brother, Gerald Moore. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Wheat Brooks of Rockwall, TX; children Judy Ann Snellings and husband David of Plano; Mark Brooks and wife Cathy of Rockwall; grandchildren, David Scott Snellings, Bradley Trey Brooks, Jordan Lance Brooks, Sarah Beth Costa and David Wade King; sister Billy Joyce Stribling of Burleson, brothers J.C. Moore and Lenton Ray Moore if Commerce. Service will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday January 23, 2004 at First Baptist Church of Heath, TX. Interment Restland Memorial Park. Family will receive friends from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m., Thursday, January 22, 2004. Jean will forever be remembered for her love of family, kindness to friends and great faith in the Lord."

Wheat and Jean Brooks Wedding

I have many memories of my grandmother, or Nanny, as the family called her. She was the best cook in the world, and I'm not just saying that. She could cook anything and it be the best thing you ever put in your mouth. I can still taste some buttermilk pie, chicken casserole, biscuit and gravy for breakfast.

Wheat and Jean Brooks

The one thing that I will never forget about my grandmother is that her and my grandpa, Wheat, always took me to church. I started going to church with them while I was in 5th grade... my mom would drop me off at their house on Saturdays and I would stay with them through Sunday night and go to church with them on Sunday. After church we would come home and she would fix me and my grandpa lunch and we would watch the Cowboys play and then take a nap.

My grandfather, Wheat, is nothing short of the best man ever. He knows everything about everything. He was born on October 21, 1928. Wheat is the only blood grandpa that I knew and I only saw my step grandpa every-now-and-then.  Growing up my brother and I always had a fourwheeler and we would ride them hard just like boys would do. When my parents divorced my dad moved out and luckily this set of grandparents lived right next door. I loved that they lived next door. So when something would go wrong with our fourwheelers my grandpa would fix it... usually it took no more than a few minutes for him to fix it. He taught me and my brother everything we know about fixing things like that. My grandpa would buy us gas for them anytime we needed it and it drove our parents crazy that he did that, but we were his grandkids and he didn't care. He would change the oil in them as well.

My grandfather is a one-of-a-kind... and I am so thankful that I know him.

Shipley - Step side

I interviewed my step mom and got some information about my step family.

My step mom is the 8th on the top from the left

Cathy Brooks, maiden name Shipley, was born on October 6, 1952. Her parents were Jack and Jo Shipley. Growing up she said that she had a friend say that her family was like the family on Leave it to Beaver... she would call her parents June and whoever the mans name was. She said that they had a very normal and fun childhood and that they didn't take very many vacations but occasionally they would take a family vacation. Her mother did not work, would stay at home and cook all the meals. They would have dinner at the table every night. A special treat would be going to the cafeteria for dinner. One of her dads favorite sayings was "get what you want, but eat what you get".

Jack Shipley

Jack Shipley, or "POP" as us grandkids would call him was a wonderful guy, said my step mom. He wasn't strict but he was firm and had rules to follow and if the rules were not followed then they would be punished for them.  He was a hard worker all his life and he finally landed a good job at Watson's Electric Company and was able to move the family to the house that I know of and lived there for over 50 years now.  Pop loved to play softball and was deacon at the church for sometime. One of his favorite things to do was to nickname people. Not only did he have nicknames for family members but he would also nickname friends and my nickname was "Sheriff Gordon" I'll never forget that. Another special thing that he liked to do was collect pocket knifes. And at one time he sold out and only kept a few, but then he started collecting again and had a good collection again. Sadly, Pop passed away in November of 2006.

Jo Shipley

Joe Shipley, aka "Grandmother" was a good mother and my step mom said that if she could be half the mom that her mom was to her kids then she would be in good shape. Grandmother was a very Godly woman, as previously said she didn't work and would be a regular homemaker. She would sew dresses for the kids and it would be no surprise that one of the girls would come home and tell her that they needed a dress by friday night and tell her on Thursday night. Grandmother never worked until all the kids were grown and then got a little part time job at a clothing store just for something to do. One of Cathy's favorite memories about her mother was at Christmas time... everyone would be done opening the packages and Grandmother would ask, for instance, Cathy did you open up a blue sweater? And Cathy would say no... and so Grandmother would go into the other room and bring back a blue sweater! Every Christmas she always forgot to wrap something.

Cathy said now she realizes all the sacrifices that both her parents did to make their life's as happy as possible.

Nellie Thomas

Maudie Casey, Jerry Horton,
Nellie Thomas and Dorothy Bunton
(all Hortons)

Hey guys. so this is probably my first real post about my family.

Starting with my grandmother on my mothers side.

Nellie Fay Thomas, maiden name is Horton, was born on February 20, 1928 to Grover and Lilly Horton. I learned that her dad, my great grandpa, was married to another woman and had two child I do believe. She talked about her growing up while I was recording her for my video that will be up soon... she said that she loved to dance when she was growing up. Her and her siblings would sneak out of the house and go to a dance hall... with no alcohol, but she pronounced it (al-key-hall) lol... she is so country.

Nellie Thomas @ 21

She said she liked to swim and they would "go down to the river" and have a good time... she also calls a pond a pool... not like a pool we have in our back yards these days but thats what they called them back then.

Her father was a good man she said, not hard on the punishment but was firm and did have to disipline her and her siblings every now and then. Her mom was a quite woman and "wasn't a tease or anything like that"... I didn't even know my grandma knew what that meant. LOL

Initial Post

Parents: Mark Brooks & DeLana Hood, Step-Mom - Cathy Brooks
Grandpartents: Wheat & Jean Brooks, Nellie Thomas, Step-Grandparents - Jack & Joe Shipley
Siblings : Brad Brooks
Step Siblings: Sarah Gonzales & David King

First Post

Mark Brooks and DeLana Hood -------> Jordan Brooks