Harold Ahrens Brooks was born on April 22, 1930 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Harry Bowthorpe Brooks and Ada Augusta Yard. He died on February 6, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah of natural causes. He had 2 sisters and 5 brothers, all of which have pre-deceased him. Harold was 15 years old when his father passed away and his mother never remarried, who is now deceased. Harold attended East High School and loved to play football and basketball.
He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as a young man in Eastern Canada from 1949 – 1951. Just six weeks after returning home from his mission, he married his childhood and high school sweetheart, Hettie Maurine Barnes on June 29, 1951 in the Salt Lake Temple. Harold continued his education at the University of Utah and received his Bachelor of Science and Elementary Teaching certificate and taught in elementary schools in the Salt Lake City area for twenty-six years. Harold and Maurine were married for 63 years before she passed away on June 14, 2014. They have five children, Kathy, Kerry Lee, Shauna, David and Julie. Harold served as Bishop of the East Millcreek Sixth Ward in 1965 for five years. They lived in Mt. Olympus Condominiums in Holladay, Utah for over 30 years and served in the Valley View Stake. They loved boating, fishing, trailering, friends and their family. Together they served two foreign full time missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – the first in Fiji/Kirabati and the other in Sydney, Australia. Upon their return, they continued serving by serving an inner city mission in Rose Park and teaching at the Salt Lake County Jail where they had many great experiences and which they enjoyed very much.
After Maurine’s passing, Harold met the second love of his life, Claudia Farrer at South Towne Ranch where they made many memories together there. They were married on December 17, 2016 in the Draper Utah temple. They enjoyed going for daily rides up the local canyons and traveling to Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Yellowstone and Jackson Hole together. Harold loved going out to eat at the Sizzler or the drive through at many fast food restaurants and then eating in the car together. At home, they loved to watch television and go to Church together.
The family would like to thank Claudia for all her love for our Dad and the countless hours of care she gave to him, especially the last six months of his life. In addition, the family is grateful to all the nurses and caregivers from Aspire Home Health who lovingly cared for him the last few weeks of his life.
Harold is survived by his wife, Claudia and his five children, Kathy (Gary, deceased) Holyoak; Kerry Lee (Noel, deceased) Martin; Shauna Haymore; David Harold (Merida) Brooks; Julie (Jimmie) Barnett; eleven grandchildren (one deceased); and, twenty-nine great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donations to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints missionary department.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy, Utah. A viewing will be held from 10:00 -10:45am prior to the services. Interment Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
To watch the recorded services, please click on the blue "Watch Services" button to the right of his picture.
Harold and I were assigned as companions to serve in the capacity of stake and ward missionaries many years ago - me being in a few years younger and not having served a proselyting mission I learned how to be bold and not ashamed to share my knowledge I will miss this wonderful man.
Sorry to hear about your loss with Harold give me a call love you Claudia and family