Irene was born on January 11, 1919 in Stamford, Texas to John and Evie Welty. She was raised in Dawson County and on December 20, 1939 she married Paul Brooks in Lamesa, Texas. She and Paul moved to Hart in 1949 to purchase irrigated land to grow cotton and grain sorghum. He preceded her in death on July 23, 1997. Irene graduated from Lamesa High School in 1939. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hart, where she was active in teaching Sunday School, helping with Vacation Bible School, and singing in the choir. She was a member of the Good Neighbors Club, a charter member of the Hart Golden Group, and a member of the Eastern Star. Irene was a wonderful seamstress, loved to garden-she could still beat anyone in shelling peas. She was an amateur artist, and she enjoyed music and singing. She often sang, "Amazing Grace," wherever she found herself-home, a hospital or a nursing home. Irene was a great cook and was known for her chocolate meringue pie, cinnamon rolls, and peach syrup. Irene is survived by her three children; son, Thomas of Hart; two daughters, Neoma Williams and husband Don of Hart, and Sharon Shofner and husband Billy of Lamesa; six granddaughters, Cindy Therwhanger, Sheila Fediuk, Ronda Gilbreath, Robin Brooks, Rachel Wall and Courtney Shofner and two grandsons, Patrick Wall and David Wall; and thirteen great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, and her caregivers, Margarita Pantoja, Marissa Pantoja, and Josefina Guerrero. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three brothers, Othel Welty, Rubert Welty, and Leonard Welty; granddaughter, Amy Shofner, son-in-law, Mike Wall; daughter-in-law, Shirley Brooks; and a caregiver, Jackie Ramos.