Kenneth Aulton Brooks

Kenneth Aulton Brooks was born on April 26, 1939, the son of the late Aulton B. and Evangeline Burress Brooks in Ramer, McNairy County, Tennessee. Kenneth left this earth for a better place on November 20, 2024 at Hardin Medical Center Health and Rehabilitation Center under the care of Arden Hospice. He fought valiantly against his cancer.

On May 9, 1964 in Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, Kenneth married Jo Ann Coffman, who preceded her husband in death on March 30, 2022. Kenneth and Jo Ann made their home in Counce, Hardin County, Tennessee. Kenneth joined Center Hill Baptist Church where he remained a member for sixty years. He was an active member, serving as superintendent of Sunday School for a number of years. He also maintained the baptistry as well as the air conditioning, ice machines, and other needs within the church.

Kenneth graduated from Michie High School in 1957. As a teenager, he raised chickens and was never able to eat chicken from that time on. He also did some photography and developed his film, but he did not have an enlarger so all his photos were very small.

Kenneth started early in his electrical and plumbing career and served his community as well as the neighboring communities with his skills. He was proud of his accomplishment of getting his pilot license and enjoyed reminiscing about his flying adventures. He was also proud of the fact that he was elected to the First Utility District of Hardin County in 2008. He was promoted to vice president in 2010 and served in that capacity through 2016. He never missed a meeting during this time except for one meeting when he was most likely hospitalized in Jackson, Tennessee in 2014.

Kenneth is survived by his sister, Doris Brooks Oswalt and husband Earl Oswalt of Southaven, Mississippi; nephews, Vincent Oswalt (Tosca) of Southaven, Mississippi, Randy Carpenter of Collierville, Tennessee, and Christopher Oswalt (Beth) of Henrico, Virginia; sisters in law, Beauton Young of Peoria, Illinois, Virginia Coffman of Adamsville, Tennessee, and Carolyn McMeans (Danny) and their sons, Darren and Tracy McMeans, who have been helping Kenneth during these last few months and were like sons to him; nephew, James Kiddy of Arkansas, who has also been a very supportive resource for Kenneth; brother in law, Travis Thompson of Corinth, Mississippi; great niece, Jacey Creswell, who was like a granddaughter to him; nieces and nephews, Linda Kiddy Eldridge, Anne Meeks Wood, Tony Meeks, Janet Meeks Sagely, Danny Meeks, and Tina Michelle Dunn; great nieces and great nephews, Kelsey Winchell, Brayden Carpenter, Jack Oswalt, and Charlotte Oswalt; and great great nephews, Kiran McMeans, Brooks Winchell, and Beckham Winchell.

In addition to his parents and wife, Kenneth was preceded in death by his grandparents, John Thomas and Mary Eula Greer Brooks, James Franklin Burress, Sr., and Nancy Allene Maxedon Burress; sisters in law, Dorothy Kiddy, Mary Sue Parsons, Mildred Meeks, and June Thompson; brothers in law, Kenneth Kiddy, William Howard "Hoss" Parsons, and Deward Meeks; and nieces, Martha Carol Carpenter, Betty Sue Gray, and Wanda Gail Thornhill.