Obituary of Mary Ellen Brooks

Funeral services for Mary Ellen Brooks, 83, of Hobbs, NM and formerly of Lovington, NM will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 3rd & Central Church of Christ at 10:00 am with Minister, David Stewart officiating. Burial will follow at Lovington Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Ratliff Funeral Home. Mary was born on March 25, 1937 in Whittenburg, Texas to Thomas Clyde and Lois Florene (Platt) Back and passed away on February 17, 2021 in Lovington. She grew up in Borger, TX where she met her first husband, John Horne, and they lived in many places before coming to Lovington in 1974. Mary was a hair stylist in the early years and in later years she was the Deputy Assessor & Appraiser for Lea County for several years. In 1986, Mary married Scott Brooks and they shared thirty years before his death. She was a member of 3rd & Central Church of Christ. Mary enjoyed being outside in the garden or the yard and she loved flowers. She also liked crocheting and sewing but her favorite pastime was "shopping, shopping, shopping." She loved her family and friends and also loved her little dog "Misty" very much. Preceding her in death were her parents; two husbands, two sisters: Jeanette Sumruld and JoAn Kincheloe; three brothers: Clyde, and Albert Back and Billy Ray Sarter. Surviving her are five sons: Dan Horne of Borger, TX, Tom Horne and wife Gail of Stinnett, TX and Randy Horne of Seattle, WA, Marty Brooks and wife Leann of Mertzon, TX and Shannon Brooks and wife Belinda of Justin, TX; two daughters: Sherri Bunch and husband Tony of Hobbs, NM; and Tanya and husband Kevin Horn of Flagstaff, AZ; Two sisters: Joyce Klement and Sharon Carlson, both of Ardmore, OK; also, two brothers: Ed Back and wife Mary of Pontiac, Michigan and Tracy Back of Pontiac, MI; sixteen grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren and many friends. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 22, 2021 from 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to www.kirbysmithrogers.com.