The year 1927 was an exciting year for many. Charles Lindbergh made the first non-stop Transatlantic flight from New York to Paris. The infamous Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy would star in their first film together, beginning their career as a comedy duo, and of course for all the baseball enthusiast, the legendary Babe Ruth his a record 60 home runs in a single season. However, for Dwight and Bertha Dawson, nothing compared to the excitement and joy they felt on Sunday, January 16, 1927, when they were blessed with the birth of their beautiful daughter named Esther Dawson.

Ninety-five glorious years later, on Thursday, January 5, 2023, our Lord and Savior called Esther Brooks from labor to reward, while being surrounded by her loving family at her home in Fort Madison, Iowa.

Esther was a proud 1944 graduate of Argyle High School. Following completion of her secondary education, she met and married the love of her life, Jesse Theodore Brooks on July 10, 1948. They remained united in Holy Matrimony for the next 67 years until his passing on January 2, 2016.

As an accomplished pianist, she played for her church, and accompanied her husband as he preached the Gospel while serving as an Evangelist. Esther was also an accounting clerk for 16 years with Chevron Chemical, retiring in 1984. She was a member of Holy Spirit Baptist Church and a proud member of Sweet Adaline's Port City Pearls.

Esther was a beautiful woman inside and out and loved the simple things in life such as cooking, spending time with her family and watching her favorite baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Theodore Brooks; her parents: Dwight and Bertha Dawson; four siblings: Chester, Edith, Marceine and Nellie; one grandson, William Thomas Wilson III; two son-in-laws: William Thomas Wilson, Jr. and Garry Thomas.

Esther Brooks leaves her precious memories to three children: Ted Brooks and Rosann Nelson (Richard), both of Fort Madison, Iowa; Estine Wilson, of Goldsboro, North Carolina; two siblings: Leo Dawson, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Vivian (Bill) Smith, of St. Charles, Missouri; several grandchildren, great grandchildren and one great great grandson, several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be 9:30 - 11:00 am Saturday, January 14, 2023 at the Barr Memorial Chapel, Fort Madison. The funeral service for Mrs. Brooks will follow and begin at 11:00 am on January 14, 2023 at the Barr Memorial Chapel with Reverend Bartlett Wilkerson officiating. A private burial will be Oakland Cemetery, Fort Madison at a later date. A memorial has been established, contributions may be left at Barr Memorial Chapel. Barr Memorial Chapel is honored to serve the Brooks family and an online guest book may be found at www.barrmemorialchapel.com.