Willie Brooks

Willie Leota King Vinion Brooks, 95, died on Thursday, May 14, 2015, at her home in Libby. She was born Jan. 9, 1920, in Stanley, N.M., to William Samuel and Mollie Schooler King.  She graduated from Stanley High School in 1937. She received a teaching certificate from Las Vegas Normal School, Las Vegas, N.M., in 1939 and taught several years before returning to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1945.

Leota married John S. Vinion on Aug. 2, 1941, in Stanley, N.M. They moved to Libby in 1945, where she raised her family. In 1971, they moved to Moriarty, N.M., where they lived until May 1993 when they moved back to Libby. Her husband John passed away in December 1993.

She married Edgar “Jack” Brooks in March 1997 and resided in Libby. She served on the board of directors of the CARD Clinic for three years until her death at the age of 95.

She was preceded in death by, her first husband, parents, brothers Bruce King and Sam King and one great-granddaughter. Leota, mom, grandma and great-grandma will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

Survivors include her husband Jack Brooks of Libby; brother Don King (Dorothy) of Stanley, N.M.; five children, Molly Emkes (George) of Albuquerque, N.M., Marvin Vinion (Dian) of Missoula, Leota  Hagerty (Bill) of Libby, Betty Vinion (David Robinson) of Madison, Ala., and Patrick Vinion (Richelle) of Libby; stepsons, John Brooks (Beth) of San Francisco, Calif., and Jerry Brooks of Seattle, Wash.; eight grandchildren; one step-grandchild  and eight great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 16, 2015, at the Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.