Irene M. Brookhart

 Irene May (Orr) Brookhart, the oldest of four children, was born to Arnold A. and Rosie Jane (Moss) Orr on April 22, 1917 at their home in Maries County near Meta, Missouri.

In 1920, at the age of three, Irene and her parents moved to Lamar by train where her father began farming between Wiley and McClave. Irene attended the two-room Enterprise School and graduated from McClave High School in 1934.

On April 18, 1937, Irene was united in marriage to Harry A. Brookhart in the Brethren Church in Rocky Ford, Colorado. To this union, three sons were born: Byron, Donald and Clifford.

Following the war, the Brookharts moved to Lamar where they raised their family and became actively involved in the community for over 50 years. They cared deeply for the Lamar community and often expressed their feelings that Lamar had been good to them and how much they enjoyed spending their lives here. Irene worked at the Prowers County Courthouse for many years and eventually joined Harry in his Farmers Insurance Agency. They were long time members of the Lamar Christian Church, the  Lamar Senior Center, the Lamar High School Booster Club and were honored as King and Queen of Lamar Days by The Zonta Club.

Irene was an active volunteer in the community for many years. She served on the Board of the Lower Arkansas Valley Area Agency on Aging, was a past President of the Senior Center, was Legislative Chairman for the Lamar Chapter of AARP and was a volunteer with the Senior Health Insurance Assistant Program and Community Health Fairs. Many families throughout the Lamar area will remember her as a mentor and for her long time assistance in helping seniors with income tax forms, answering MedicarelMedicaid questions and helping them to apply for property, heat and rent rebates, and other assistance programs available to seniors. Until the time of her death at age 91, she also helped seniors qualify and obtain Medical Alert equipment to summon emergency medical help so they could continue to live independently in their homes.

She and Harry shared over 60 years of marriage. She is preceded in death by her husband, Harry A. Brookhart who passed away on December 7,2002; her parents, Arnold and Rosie Orr; and her brothers, Arnold Jr, and James Orr.

She is survived by her sons and their wives: Byron and Gail Brookhart of Parker, CO, Donald and Marie Brookhart of Lamar, CO and Clifford and Linda Brookhart of Boulder, CO. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and her sister and husband, Lela and Lee Centner of Lamar, CO as well as numerous other relatives and friends.

A celebration of Irene’s Life was held at 11:00 AM, Monday, November 24, 2008 at the Lamar Christian Church with Ian Blacker officiating. Interment was held at Fairmount Cemetery.

Musical selections were “In the Garden” and “One Day at a Time” which were sung by Gail Specht who accompanied herself on the guitar. Providing prelude and postlude selections were Ms. Leda Grahn.

Serving as casket bearers were Monte Ausmus, Ken Smartt, Les Scriven, Russ Hobden, Greg Ausmus and Louie White.

Following the graveside service and closing prayers, the Brookhart Family returned to the church to share in the memorial meal provided by the ladies of the Christian Church.

At her request, the family asks that Memorial contributions be made to the Lamar Christian Church.