James Gray "Jim" Brooks

James Gray “Jim” Brooks, 83, of Moberly, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 19, 2022.  He was born November 28, 1938, to Archie and Mildred (Mallory) Brooks in Ava, MO. 

Jim graduated from Madison High School in 1956.  He married his high school sweetheart, Carol Ann Holohan, in Madison, MO, July 20, 1958.

In high school, Jim was an athlete, receiving a college scholarship to play basketball.  After high school, his love of sports led him to forming and coaching a men’s fast-pitch softball team that traveled around the state, and later, a high school girl’s fast-pitch softball team where he coached his own granddaughters to many championship titles. 

After years of working on the N & W Railroad, Jim started a sporting goods business in his home garage. That business became known as Championship Sports and served the Moberly area for almost 40 years.

Jim was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Moberly where he served as a deacon.  He was a 32nd Degree Mason with the Coon Creek Shrine Club and was dedicated to helping children receive services through Shriner’s Hospital.

Jim was full of courage and strength.  Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1997, he underwent an experimental stem cell transplant which saved his life.  Over the years, he suffered numerous medical set-backs, but continued to serve his community, impacting more lives than he ever knew.

Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Carol; three daughters: Lori Lawrence of Moberly, MO, Shari (Jack) Pretz of Moberly, MO, and Vicki White of Kansas City, MO. Grandchildren: Destiny (Matt) Koch, Tiffany (Stephen) Clevenger, Jessica (Rob) Hegstrom, Brett (Whitney) White, Allison (Matt) Bozarth, Grayden (Amber) Pretz, Bridger Pretz, and Caiden (Jacob) Smith.  Great-grandchildren: Riece Clevenger; Skylar Goodman, Brooks and Rowan Hegstrom; Addison, Amelia and Everly White, Fletcher Smith; Gavin and Landon Koch; Baylor and Knox Pretz.  Sister-in-laws: Shirley (Brooks) Briscoe, Beverly Holohan and Joy (Holohan) Benton; brother-in-law: Dennis Benton.  Aunt, Elsie Mallory, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Mildred Brooks, brother, David Brooks,  father-in-law Elwood Holohan, mother-in-law, Marjorie Holohan Garnett, father-in-law, Don Garnett, and brother-in-law, Keith Holohan.

Words of comfort and support were shared with the family at a visitation that was held at the Cater Funeral Home.  Funeral services honoring and celebrating Jim’s life were held in the Cater Funeral Home Chapel.  Committal prayer and burial followed at the Sunset Hill Cemetery, Madison, Mo.

Jim’s family has decided to start an annual memorial scholarship for a college bound athlete, in Jim’s honor.  In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials can be made to: The Jim Brooks Championship Sports Memorial Scholarship Fund, or Moberly First Baptist Church or the Shriners Crippled Chileans Hospital.