Brooks, Rev. Merrell Lee 


Services for Rev. Merrell Lee Brooks will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2006, at 
Welch Funeral Home in Longview, with the Rev. Harry Lee Wilson and the Rev. Ronnie 
Starr officiating. Interment will be in Memory Park. The Rev. Merrell Brooks, loving 
husband, father, "Paw Paw," brother, uncle, friend, and pastor to many, went home to 
meet the Lord on May 27, 2006, after a brief illness. He was born December 7, 1926, 
to Andrew and Myrtle Brooks in Navarro County. Surrendering his life to the ministry 
at the age of 18, Merrell left home, received his education at East Texas Baptist 
College, and began spreading the Gospel for Christ. During the summer of 1947, he 
worked for the State Mission Department with a group called the Invincibles of Texas. 
Merrell held a vacation Bible school, which led to the founding of Morton Baptist 
Church in Harleton. After leaving Morton, he began working for R.G. LeTourneau Boys' 
Ranch in Lindale, and he led the music for First Baptist Church of Lindale. On June 
14, 1951, the Rev. Merrell Brooks came to Longview with a call from God to organize 
and build a church. In preparation for the organization of this church, a two-week 
revival began, and on June 26, 1951, a group of 33 came forward and became charter 
members of Temple Baptist Church. In 1978, Temple Baptist Church purchased six 
acres of land on Loop 281 in Longview to build a new facility. The name of the 
church was changed from Temple Baptist Church to Woodland Hills Baptist Church. The 
Rev. Merrell remained the pastor of Temple Baptist Church for 29 years before 
resigning in September 1980. After resigning from Temple, he went to work as a rural 
mail carrier and also took a part-time pastorate at Oak Grove Baptist Church in 
Harleton. During the 10 years Bro. Brooks served as pastor of Oak Grove Baptist, the 
church underwent a new building program. He retired in September 1990. After his 
retirement, Bro. Brooks helped to establish a chaplain's program with the Longview 
Fire Department and served as chaplain for several years. He went on a mission trip 
to Russia and was able to preach and share the word of God with people. Being active 
in the Woodmen of the World, Bro. Merrell served as president of Lodge No. 6028 for 
several years and as trustee for the Pythian Lodge. He is survived by his wife of 54 
years, Jessie Mae Brooks of Longview; a daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Russell 
Shipwash of Harleton; a son, David Brooks of Corpus Christi; two granddaughters, 
Kelley and Jessica of Longview; one great-grandson, Cameron Johnson of Longview; 
three brothers, Wade Brooks, Charles Brooks, and Alvin Brooks; four sisters, Kathleen 
Thomas, Bonnie Price, Maudene Blackburn, and Adene Cumbie; a number of nieces and 
nephews; and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his mother and father; and 
three brothers, Ernest Brooks, Willie George Brooks, and Buddy Brooks. In 1988, Bro. 
Brooks and his wife established an endowed scholarship at East Texas Baptist University 
to help students with their education. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that 
donations may be sent to the Merrell and Jessie Mae Brooks Scholarship Fund at East 
Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas, or to a charity of your choice. A family 
visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday evening, May 30, 2006, at the funeral 
home. An online registry may be signed at www.news-journal.com, by clicking on the 
obituaries link.

Published in the Longview News-Journal from 5/29/2006 - 5/30/2006.