Helen “Gaylene” Brooks, 94, of Worthington passed away on September 16, 2025. She was born on January 16, 1931 in Pentress, WV to the late Enas and Pauline West. She married Lester Eugene Brooks on November 13, 1947. She is survived by four sons, David Eugene Brooks and wife Connie of Conway, SC, Michael Stephen Brooks and wife Madeline of Fairmont, Danny Lynn Brooks from Tulsa, OK, and Richard K. “Rick” Brooks and wife Beth of Worthington; one brother, Robert B. West and wife Jo Clair of Franktown, CO; one sister Janice Ann Greinhart of Morgantown. She is also survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lester Eugene Brooks on August 5, 1996; one brother, James H. Brooks, and one sister, Gwendolyn L. Campbell, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, her mother-in-law and father-in law, Grant and Stella Brooks, and longtime family friend, Leon Covey.
She had many jobs over her life, starting at age 16, working at Westinghouse and finally retiring at age 82 from Gabes in Morgantown. Her favorite was working for 15 years for Dr. John and Marcy Leon as their nanny.
She raised their four kids and they have all been family since. She was a caretaker all of her life to anyone who needed her care. She touched many lives in her 94 years. She will be cremated and buried with her husband at the WV National Cemetery in Pruntytown and a memorial service will be conducted at a later date
