Arlie Brooks

Arlie Day Brooks age 87 passed away gracefully at home on June 30, 2018 surrounded by his family.
Arlie was born on September 8, 1930. His father, Marvin Brooks, was of English and Welsh descent, his mother, Alice Stinson, was of English and German Dutch descent.  She is very likely a direct descendent of Christopher Martin, purveyor for the Mayflower pilgrimage to Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts.  
He grew up in Philip, South Dakota, and attended Haakon County and Philip City Schools. After high school he attended Spearfish Teachers College. He completed his bachelors in education with a minor in math. He received his teaching credential in 1953. He followed that with a masters in Physical Education at Fresno State in 1960.
His love of the prairie and the Black Hills of South Dakota have never waned throughout his life. He has four living brothers, and one brother who died at birth.
He met Idellette Ann Ellington (Idy) at a dance at the Spearfish City Park bandstand. They were very good dancers, but together they were great dancers.  They were married on April 3, 1952, in Spearfish South Dakota. Their love of dancing continued throughout their lives.
Arlie received his teaching credential and accepted a teaching position in California in 1953. Heidi and Arlie lived in Kingsburg, Selma, Coalinga, and then moved to Reedley in 1963.  During all of this time until his retirement in 1992 he taught and coached.  Arlie coached a lot of sports at the high school and college levels.  He was head basketball and golf coach at Reedley College. Other sports he coached included, swimming, football, badminton, handball, racquetball, track, and more.  He had very competitive teams.  Many of his athletes went on to excel in many arenas.  
One notable anecdote is when he was coaching in Selma, his point guard was Bobby Cox (of Atlanta Brave fame) and he played Clovis High and their point guard was Darrel Lamonica (Raiders Lamonica Stadium). A fun memory for dad.
 Dad played great golf and tennis, he loved laughter music and dancing. Heidi and Arlie went dancing every Friday night! They shared one amazing romance for 66 & one-half years. Their love of their family was the foundation that kept our family so close.
Because Heidi and Arlie both taught, the family spent many summers in South Dakota, working on the family ranch, enjoying time in Spearfish and Philip. Such wonderful memories.
Arlie is survived by his sons Michael (spouse Jill), Kelly (spouse Connie), Daniel, and daughters Peggy McKellar (spouse Kent), and Patricia Hixson (spouse Brad). Grandchildren: Ryan Brooks, Robyn Klemm, Allyson Klein, Jennifer Dressel, Jamison McKellar, Chase Hixson, Sean Hixson, and Matthew Hixson.
Great-grandchildren: Kaden McKellar, Emmalyn and Nolan Klemm, Hailey and Hannah Klein, Scotty Jansen and Declan McKellar. Siblings, Darrel Brooks, George Brooks, Dale Brooks, and Gary Brooks, their wives, Marilyn, Deanna, and Ellen. His Brother in law Edward “Duke” Ellington, and Sister in Law Eloise Harback and her husband Ken.
He is preceded in death by his dance partner and loving wife Heidi who passed on June 4, 2018.
Services were held Friday the 13th of July at Reedley Cemetery Pavilion
Reception to follow at School House Restaurant.
Family requests remembrances be made to:
Pay to: State CCD Foundation
on memo line write - Arlie Brooks Memorial Scholarship
Mail to: State CCD Foundation, 390 W. Fir, Suite 300 Building B,
Clovis, California, 93611