Many people have said Gene Brooks had a certain kind of jingle in his step. It originated from two places; the permanent smile on his face that gushed from his big giving heart, and the ever-present wad of keys clipped to his belt.
If there were a key to happiness, he would have shared it with everyone he met. The good news is, the door to happiness isn’t locked, and Gene knew that. He was not your normal locksmith, and believe it or not, that was a good thing.
Gene lost count of how many locks he opened for people who couldn’t afford to pay. He would flash his larger-than-life smile and say, “Forget about it, happy to help.”
Harold Eugene “Gene” Brooks was born on Saturday, November 6, 1937, in Flat Rock, IL to his parents, Carl and Madonna Brooks. He served in the United States Army as a communications operator. Following his army days, he spent several years working for Haliburton.
He married Delores in 1985 and they spent 31 wonderful years together taking care of each other through thick and thin. But in recent years, Gene demonstrated his love for Delores by serving her as her caregiver. Gene did what no one else could do, in a way no one else could do it, in spite of all he went through in life. He lived out true love.
Gene opened his locksmith business in Yukon and for the next 35 years, the citizens of Yukon knew they could depend on Gene to open their locked doors and keep them and their belongings safe. Trust is the word everyone used when speaking about Gene.
Gene retired several years ago, and even then, there were those special customers whose call for help he couldn’t resist.
Harold Eugene Brooks didn’t need any tools to pass through the door to his eternal home. The door was already wide open for him. He passed through that door on October 2, 2021, at the age of 83. He leaves behind a host of satisfied customers and a long trail of smiles.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Madonna Brooks, his brother Donnie Ray Kale, and his sisters Norma Kale-Reeves and Marjorie Kale-Weber. He is succeeded by his stepson, Merle Kale and his wife Sydney, and a great many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will live a better life because of the love and influence Gene had.
Gene will be greatly missed, and we know that should the gates of heaven ever need the attention of a locksmith, he will be Johnny-on-the-spot, and the service will be on the house.
Viewing for Gene will be held on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ingram, Smith & Turner Mortuary in Yukon. Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at 10 a.m. at the Yukon Cemetery. Please visit www.IngramSmithTurner.com to order flowers and for detailed information.
