OBITUARIES

Paul Martin Brooks Jr., age 84, passed away on May 24, 2025, with family at his side. Paul was born Feb. 4, 1941, to Paul and Ethel Brooks at his family home. He was raised on the family farm and never forgot the value of love and hard work. He graduated with honors from Webb City High School in 1959. Paul married his high school sweetheart, Mary Donna Pratt, on June 2, 1962. He worked his way through Kansas State College (now Pittsburg State University) and graduated in 1963. After college, Paul entered the U.S. Army. In 1965, after active duty, he moved his family back to Joplin and worked as an accountant. He continued his service in the National Guard and Reserves, achieving the rank of captain.

In 1968, Paul moved his growing family to the Noel area and worked for Winston-Delaware Mobile Homes. In 1974, he began working at Holden Industries and bought the firm in 1978. He grew and expanded the company throughout the rest of his life. In addition to Holden, he also owned Jose O’Malley’s Restaurant and Bar in Noel from 1983 until 2000 and Jobe Satellite Company from 1983 until 1992. Besides being an astute businessman, he was also civic-minded, serving for many years with the Noel Chamber of Commerce and for 10 years on the Noel City Council. After a brief retirement in 2012, he went back to work at Holden Industries in 2017. In his spare time, he loved gardening, tinkering in his garage and doing crossword puzzles.

Above all, Paul loved his family wholeheartedly. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, brother, and, in 2015, his son Bryan Brooks.

Paul is survived by Donna, his loving wife of 62 years; his children, Rob (Dixie) Brooks, Debbie (Jeff) Griffin, and Natalie Brooks; his daughter-in-law, Vivian Brooks; grandchildren, Ashley (Mark) Purvis, Brittany Brooks, Jon (Ellie) Brooks, Zack Brooks, Chelsea Griffin, and Bradley (Stephanie) Griffin; great-grandchildren, Addy, Avery, and Maverick Purvis, and Madden and Salem Brooks; and his loyal dog, Bubba.

Paul had a most generous heart and helped numerous people throughout the years. He will be dearly missed by many.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, with Pastor Bob Howard officiating. Burial will follow at Noel Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jon Brooks, Zack Brooks, Bradley Griffin, Jeff Griffin, Jeff Pratt, Chad Brooks and Mark Purvis, with Richard Pratt serving as an honorary. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Ozark Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW, in care of the funeral home.