Isy Clary Brooks

Isy Clary Brooks passed away at home Thursday, May 18, 2017, at the age of 104. Born September 28, 1912 in Berrien County, Georgia, he was the son of Loney Brooks and Mary Jane Elizabeth Lewis Brooks. He came to Florida in 1922 with his parents and six brothers and sisters in a covered wagon pulled by two mules. The family settled in Polk County, Florida, where he graduated from Wachula High School. As adults he and his brothers formed a gospel quartet and were in great demand singing throughout Central Florida. When the owner of a men's wear and furniture store in Orlando approached him about singing professionally in another gospel quartet, he moved to Orlando and sang weekly with the group on the radio. In Orlando, he met Ethel Lorna Barker whom he married in 1939. They celebrated 65 years together before she passed away in 2005. I. C. served as an army combat engineer in Europe during World War II and in 2012 received the Legion of Honor Award, the highest honor given by the French government, for his service there in that conflict. After the war he became the manager of Mather Furniture store in Kissimmee, Florida, and later opened his own furniture business in St. Cloud, Florida. There he was a member of St. Cloud Rotary Club and was very active in the First United Methodist Church. After retirement he and his wife purchased property in Franklin, North Carolina, where he spent time building a summer home. In 1992 the sold the property and moved to DeLand where he built a workshop and spent days making, refinishing and repairing furniture. In addition he loved to sew and made all of his wife's clothes for many years. I.C. is survived by three children: Lorna Jean Hagstrom, DeLand, Renard Brooks, Frederick, Colorado, and Phoebe Crofts (George), DeLand; six grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. A funeral and celebration of his life will take place Wednesday, May 31st at 11am at First United Methodist Church in DeLand officiated by Rev. Owen Stricklin. Visitation will take place that morning at 10am in the church. A reception will follow the funeral service. Online condolences may be made at www.allensummerhill.com. All arrangements are under the direction of Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home.