Michael Ray Brooks

Michael Ray Brooks, 75, was born in Broken Arrow, OK, to Joe and Mary Jo Brooks. Michael spent his childhood and young adulthood in the Kansas City area. He was active in the Cub Scouts and then Boy Scouts, earning his Eagle during High School. At the same 􀆟me, he was active in sports and the band as well as flourishing as an artist. Michael was always the life of the Brooks family, as his humor and positive attitude kept everyone laughing. That positivity, developed as a child, became the hallmark of his life.

Upon graduating from Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1968, Michael earned his B.A. in Theology from Baker University in Baldwin City, KS, in 1973, and his Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, in 1979. He also studied at Candler for his Ph.D., but unfortunately, he did not finish his thesis because life just got in the way.

Before enrolling at Baker University, Michael worked with teens for the Kansas City organization, Youth for Christ. While serving the Ottawa area chapter of YFC, he saw a teenager walking down the steps of Ottawa Junior High School, where the meeting was to show him the way. Her name was Sandra Yates. Every time they drove by that building, Michael would always remark about the sight of her in that short skirt (hey, it was the 60s). They married at the Ottawa Brethren Church on the hottest day of August 7th, 1970. The minister was 30 minutes late to the wedding, so everyone was sweltering in an un-airconditioned church. This past August 7th, Michael and Sandra were blessed to celebrate their 55th anniversary.

Michael was such a giving person that he left Theology School after one year to help his brother-in-law with the family farm after Sandra’s father passed. Imagine a city boy milking cows and driving a tractor; a first at both. Michael said the best drink he ever had in his life was when his wife brought a cold beer out to the field for him while plowing a field.

After helping on the family farm, Michael entered the life insurance and financial services industry. He started as a field agent and, prior to retirement, had served as a Senior Vice President and Board member with two major nationwide insurance and financial services companies. Additionally, he served on multiple industry committees and organizations. He re􀆟red from the insurance and financial services industry after a successful 30-year career.

When asked over the course of his career what he did for a living, Michael’s reply has always been, “I’m in the business of helping people at some of their most critical times of need.”

While working in the life insurance industry, Michael became a “road warrior” traveling almost all states to meet with the directors and agents he worked with. That was in the days when flying was fun. His two most “exciting” flights happened less than a month apart. First, he was flying into St. Louis, Missouri, when the landing gears would not come down. After flying around to lower the level of fuel, the flight landed on its belly at a landing site in Illinois. Everyone was fine on that flight un􀆟l after off the plane Michael noticed snakes all over the field they were standing in bare-footed.

The second “exciting” flight was on 9/11, on the plane to St. Louis. No one, not even the captain, knew what was going on. In fact, he found out what had happened after calling his wife. He eventually got a rental car and drove home.

Michael and Sandra got to travel to many exciting places. His favorites were three Alaskan Inside Passage cruises. They took the first one for their 25th wedding anniversary. The next cruise was with their closest friends, Kathy and Bill Taylor. The last cruise was with Sandra’s sister, Sally Kramer, and her husband, Terry. He really wanted to go on another one, but unfortunately his health interfered.

Other fun trips were London, England where they took the Chunnel to Paris, France; Stow-on-the Wold, a market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England (where his sister-in-law plugged her hair dryer in without the proper plug adapter, and the end of the hair dryer looked like a 747 taking off; (fortunately, she did not burn down the14th century hotel); and all of Ireland. During their stay at Ballymaloe in East Cork, Ireland, Michael loved sitting outside at night (didn’t get dark until after 11 PM) smoking a Cuban cigar (bought at Harrod’s) and having a glass of port. There was also a 9-hole golf course there which he enjoyed watching a dog chase the golf balls; and many other places.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Mary Jo Brooks, in 2024, both of whom he dearly loved. Michael always said he was lucky to have had them so long, as they were both 95 when they passed.

Surviving family includes his wife, Sandra Brooks, of Overland Park, Kansas; his sister, Vickie Gates, the wife of the late Shaun Gates; and his brother, Mark Brooks, and his wife, Valerie, of Broken Arrow, OK. Multiple brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law survive him, as do many nephews, nieces, and grand nephews and nieces.

Sandra would like to pay tribute to Dr. Charles Sullivan, who guided Michael for 15 years through his medical problems. Dr. Sullivan and Michael hit it off at their first appointment. Dr. Sullivan told Sandra after Michael’s death that Michael was one of his most knowledgeable patients, always prepared for appointments with his medical history notebook, and that they had discussed many topics.

Michael passed into eternity at home on October 23, 2025, in the loving arms of his wife, Sandra. A private memorial service will be held for the family only. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.

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