Obituary of Dennis Matthew Brooks

Dennis Matthew Brooks, Rear Admiral, United States Navy (Ret), 83, of Pell City passed away on Monday, November 12th, 2018 surrounded by his family.

He was born on November 23rd, 1934 in Fairfield to James Clarence and Annie Bullock Brooks. He was married to Dolores Katherine Gober on December 14th, 1957. Together they had three children, Mark, Amy, and Allison.

Brooks was a 1952 graduate of Fairfield High School, spent one year at Howard College and went on to graduate from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1957.

For 35 years Brooks served his country with the utmost honor and dignity. As a naval officer, he was a fighter pilot, a test pilot, a teacher, and served in a number of leadership positions with distinction. As his career evolved, so did his scope of responsibility. He went on to command fighter squadrons (VF-51 and VF-121), ships USS Kansas City (AOR-3) and USS Constellation (CV-64), Carrier Group Seven (CCG-7) and Battle Force and Carrier Strike Forces of the U.S. Seventh Fleet (CTF-70/77). In 1988, he was the first commander of the Joint Task Force, Middle East (CJTF-ME). There he commanded all of the U.S. Forces in the Persian Gulf. Ashore he served as Director, Navy Space Command and Military Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) at his retirement from active duty.

After his Navy career, Brooks and his wife Lorrie retired to Pell City in 1992, where he continued to make a significant impact on the community both locally and state-wide. He served as Rotary District Governor for District 6860, and has remained an indispensable member of the Pell City club before and after his tenure as District Governor. He also served Pell City's Habitat for Humanity as a founder, The Boy Scouts of America, the Board of The Eastern Health Foundation and the Pell City Library Guild among other philanthropic efforts.

Brooks is survived by his wife of 60 years, best friend, constant companion, and love of his life, Dolores "Lorrie" Brooks, their three children; son Dennis Mark Brooks (Melissa) of Adelaide, Australia, daughter Amy Brooks Miller of Gadsden, and daughter Allison Brooks Middlebrook of Anniston, two grandchildren; James Brooks Miller and Mary Katherine Middlebrook, two sisters; Ann Brooks McAllister Mitchell and Sue Brooks Hassell Parker (Lynn), and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 19th at the Center for Education and Performing Arts (CEPA), 25 Williamson Drive, Pell City, AL, 35125, from 2 to 3 PM.

Condolences may be offered online at www.usreyfuneralhome.com.  Usrey Funeral Home of Pell City is in charge of arrangements.