James Allen “Brooksey” Brooke, 65, husband of Melanie Rose Hursh Brooke, died Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence
Born June 29, 1950, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, he was a son of Patricia Dorothy Foster Hanner and the late John LeRoy Brooke. Jim was a 1968 graduate of Montoursville High School, Montoursville, Pennsylvania, where he was a four-sport athlete participating in football, baseball, wrestling and track in which he participated all through his junior high school and senior high school years (seventh through 12th).
In 1985, he took Montoursville All Stars to win the state championship as part of the Little League World Series. In 1987, he took the baseball team representing American Legion Post 104, Montoursville to the state championship. In the 1988-1989 season, he coached the first ever baseball team at South Williamsport High School in Pennsylvania to a championship in PIAA District 4.
He also coached Pop Warner football in Montoursville and high school wrestling in Montgomery, PA. Jim was a great friend and wonderful listener. After family and friends, his greatest loves were fishing, baseball, college football and wrestling at the high school and college levels. He loved American Legion baseball and was an avid supporter of the Penn State Wrestling Team.
He is survived by his wife of Manning; his mother of Montoursville; two sons, Stephen V. Brooke (Karie) of Kingsland, Georgia, and Kevin John-Paul Brooke of Milton, Pennsylvania; a brother, Jerry A. Brooke (Brendi) of Turbotville, Pennsylvania; three granddaughters, Cassandra Taylor (Brent) of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, Cadence Brooke and Reyna Brooke, both of Kingsland, Georgia; a great-grandson, Haidyn Taylor; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home with the Rev. Aubrey Bussell officiating.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory, 304 N. Church St. in Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179.
