John Fletcher Brooks, 59, of Dimmitt, TX, passed away on Saturday, August 15, 2015 in Shallowater, Texas. Family will receive friends from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at Colonial Funeral Home in Dimmitt, Texas. Memorial Services will be at a later date. Arrangements under the direction of Colonial Funeral Home of Dimmitt, Texas. John was born on January 7, 1956 in Florence, Arizona to C. T. Brooks and Leeida Wilson Brooks. Fittingly, it was one of the worst weather days in history of the Sonoran Desert, a blizzard more befitting Minnesota than Arizona. However, his dad, the late C.T. Brooks, likely had more than enough Old Charter-brand antifreeze to make the trip. Somehow his sister, Patricia Chester of Shallowater, and two brothers, David Stephens of Dimmitt and Randel Stephens of Shallowater, survived him. As an adult, he was labeled, er, diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, which explains the grief he gave teachers during his school years in Dimmitt from fifth grade through graduation. Much to Don Nelson's later chagrin, he paid $5 for a story John wrote in 1967. That launched a somewhat spotty relationship with the Castro County News and the Hereford Brand over the years. In 1972, he read and index card posted to the bulletin board at Dimmitt High School. It was about the need for part-time help at KDHN. He worked full-time at KDHN from 1975 through 1983, and did play-by-play sports until 1997. Somehow many Castro County basketball teams won state championships despite his presence including three Bobcat state championships and about 100 by the Nazareth Swifts and Swiftettes. Much to the relief of many in Texas, he moved to the Seattle area in 1997. In between rain storms, he umpired fast-pitch for the Seattle Metro Softball Umpires Association. Despite the agony he caused SMSUA, he was named the Jack Reynolds Memorial High School Umpire of the Year in 2009. He promptly had two heart attacks and had to quit umpiring - again. In spite of his success in training new umpires, SMSUA also scooted him out of the training program he loved and helped develop. In four weak moments, John was twice elected president of Dimmitt Kids Inc. and the Dimmitt Booster Club in the 1980's. He volunteered hundreds of hours to punishing local baseball players and coaches (especially Rick McCracken, Jerry Durham, Mickey Bishop and Henry Ramaekers) with his umpiring in Dimmitt, Hereford and Plainview. When he was in Seattle, he suckered Michael D. Meyers into helping him with his political consultancy business. Speaking of suckering people in, John was successful in two campaigns to elect Arnold as California governor, and foistered many Walmart supercenters on unsuspecting folks in California, Utah and Arizona. John was one of the survivors of the Dimmitt High School Class of 1973 - though many disavow any knowledge of what he went through as a schoolboy. He attended Hardin-Simmons University; however, the lowering of the drinking age to 18 an John's enrollment in H-SU did not mix well and he was asked not to come back after the fall semester of 1974. Besides his work at KDHN, John tortured the ears of KKYN listeners for 18 months in 1983-1984. He then took his torture to a different form as news editor of the CNN, 1984-87. He then became managing editor of the Hereford Brand, 1987-93, when his first surrender to the demons of depression forced him to retire. In 2012 he returned to the Brand as a columnist and a kinda-sorta consultant-type thing. Thankfully, John did not procreate. However, his survivors include a sister, Patty Chester and husband Mike of Shallowater, TX, 2 brothers, David Stephens and wife Sue of Dimmit, TX and Randel Stephens of Shallowater, TX, a boy, are they ever survivors - include a (step) son, Cordell McDougald, his wife Meri and daughters Cara and Makenzie, of Nampa, ID; a (step) daughter, Kelsey Carlson and her husband Greg of Kenmore, WA; three nieces, Marissa Toon and her husband Derrick of Shallowater, TX, Christy McLean and her husband Jordan of Dimmitt, TX, and Roseve Winchell of Bellevue, WA; two nephews, Braydon Stephens of Dimmitt, TX and Dorian Scarlett of Santa Barbara, CA; many aunts, uncles and cousins who mastered walking on eggshells in his presence; a couple ex-wives; and - speaking of survivors - hundreds of friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, C.T. Brooks on November 14, 1963 and Leeida Stephens on September 17, 2011. This obituary is the original obit that John Brooks wrote for himself. Memorials may be made to a favorite charity of your choice. Sign the online guestbook at colonialfuneralhome.org