Marvin A. Brooker, Jr., 83, of Gainesville, FL passed away on October 9, 2012 at Largo Medical Center, FL.
Born in Gainesville, he was a graduate of Harding College in Searcy, AR and the University of Florida, receiving degrees in Journalism and Business Administration. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War, serving in the Army Occupation of Germany. He served as VP and President and retired from Alachua County Abstract Company after 50 years of service. He was Past President of the Florida Land Title Assoc. and established the Certified Land Title Seachers (CLS Institute). He served as Deacon at the University City Church of Christ for 55 years; and over 50 year member of the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville where he served as President and FL District Lt. Governor.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Inez; daughter, Sandra Brooker; son, Don (Donna) Brooker, all of Gainesville; brother, Dr. Ralph Brooker of St. Petersburg, FL; sister, Sue Rowand of Lake City, FL; and two grandsons, Wess and Michael.
The family will have a reception at 10:00 AM in the Family Life Center on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at University City Church of Christ, 4626 NW 8th Avenue, Gainesville. A memorial service will follow at 11:30AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the church’s College Ministry.
Please sign the guestbook below.
So sorry to hear of your loss. OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.
Blanche and Randel Thornhill
Dahlonega, GA
I regret hearing of the death of Marvin. My sympathy is with you at this time. May you find comfort in the fact he was a Christian. They are the ones prepared to leave this world.
Tommy Thornhill
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
I was shocked to learn of Mr. Brooker’s passing. He was an icon in our church family. I thought very highly of him, as I do your entire family. I always admired him as a song leader and it always meant so much to me whenever he had a word of encouragement for me when I lead singing. He was a wonderful man.
Marvin was a good man who served God and others. His influence will live on in us all. Our condolences and love.
Marvin was such a wonderful servant leader and a great Christian example & family man! We thank you so much for your hospitality and always helping our campus ministry. Our prayers are with the Brooker family – we love you and know Marvin is in a better place – time is short on this earth compared to the eternity we will all spend together in Heaven – love, Donny & Julie
We will all miss Matvin greatly. Friday night Bible studies won’t be the same.
We are so sorry to learn of the news. Words can not express the grief and sorrow you feel at this time. Thanks be to the love and grace given us by our father in heaven there is peace and comfort in the fold of Christ’s arms.
In God’s Love,
Don & Sue Dillon
Our sympathy goes out to his wife and family. Our prayers are with you. Marv was an outstanding Kiwanian and will be deeply missed.
Bill & Jean Heltemes
We will certainly miss Marvin. my trips to Florida will not longer be the same. Marvin and his family alway made such an extra point to make me feel welcome. We will miss you Marvin but we also know you have graduated to a much better place. Plan to see you in the future.
Our prayers and sympathy to the family.
God Bless and Keep you all.
“Some glad morning when this life is over,
I’ll fly away: to a home on God’s celestial shore…”
We will keep you in our prayers for the peace and Comfort only our Heavenly Father provides.
Leo, Beatrice, Carline Hines
Our prayers are with you.
What a wonderful picture…always with that great smile! No words can express how special Marvin was to my father, mother, and me. He and dad seemed inseparable and as close as a brother. I can’t imagine growing up and living next door to anyone else. He has always been our support and help all my life. I’ll always appreciate him and Inez looking our for my mother in her alone years. I’m thankful for the family closeness for 50+ years.
I can imagine Marvin singing joyful songs with the angels themselves. Another precious soul is in heaven with our family that is already welcoming him there. Our hearts are broken on earth, but we’ll meet him again. I pray for comfort and peace to all of you.
Marvin was a very dear friend and faithful brother in Christ. In our younger days we were closely associated at church, corresponded when he did military service and played some great tennis together. During our years in Brazil Marvin and Inez were faithful supporters of our work and have left a spiritual heritage in that country. We will miss him very much but look forward to the great reunion in future times.
Our sympathy and prayers go out to all of the family. May the
Lord comfort you through the loving memories that you share
of Marvin and the promise in God’s Word that you will see him again.
David and Pam Spears
What a steadfast Christian man. We send our love and prayers.
Mr. Brooker was an amazing man and looked up to by many people. I appreciate his service to God’s kingdom.
There are numerous things about Marvin I will miss: his encouraging words and smile; his service in the baptistry; keeping me on key when singing tenor in church; his continued support both for the recovery ministry and personally; most of all, his tremendous example of a committed Christian leader. Please accept my love, gratitude and support for the beautiful Brooker family.
Inez, I am SO sorry. Thank you so much for letting me know. I have such sweet memories of your fine Christian husband. He and Bob were made from the same pattern and it was such an honor and a privilege to be a part of their lives these years.
Your life will never even resemble the life you had together, but it does get easier (more common) as a friend here said. Talk next week. Just MAKE IT THROUGH THIS—DAY BY DAY!
Love you lots. Pat
It has been a honor and blessing to have known and been a friend of Marvin. His happy heart will be so missed by me. He was married to a wonderful Christian woman, Inez, and they were an incredible couple for Christ.
Love you Inez, Sandra and Don.
I am so sorry hear of the loss of Marvin. He and Barney were great mentors to me. They were men of great integrity and examples of leadership.
Our heartfeld condolences to Ralph and Jewel. We are too far on the globe to have met Ralph’s brother but we wish he had. He must have been a wonderful person.
We’re very sorry for your loss of Marvin. He was loved and respected by many and will be missed. Know that he is now in a better place and you will see him again.
Inez, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time in your lives.
How we will miss his bright smile, his beautiful tenor voice, his wisdom and humor.
Family I was shocked to hear of Marvins passing. I knew he was in the hospital but I thought he was getting better. Please know that he is better off today than he was last week. Inez, As someone who is been through what you are now experiencing, I can tell you that it will get better as time passes. He was a good Christian man and I will also miss him.
The Cline family loves the Brooker family so very much. Linda and I are forever grateful for the friendship, care and mentoring during our college years and all of the love, hospitality and support during our early years of ministry in Gainesville. My brother Marvin was amazing. Always upbeat and optimistic…always with a smile to share and a song on his heart. What a great tool in God’s hand, what a great loss for us what a great day in heaven! Inez, Don and Sarah you are loved and fervently prayed for along with all the rest of the family. Few people have blessed my life more.
Marvin was very special to me in many ways. I fondly remember as a child the way he could bring Bible stories to life in Sunday school with his colorful and interesting teaching methods. Marvin was my mentor as a song leader, offering encouragement, instruction and support in such a loving and gentle way. I will miss Marvin however I take comfort in knowing that he is in paradise.
Marvin was a fine Christian gentleman with a servant’s heart. We’re very sorry to hear of his passing. God Bless.
from what we know and what we hear he was enjoyed by many. our thoughts are of you. lea and tim thornhill
Much love to Inez and family. Mr. Brooker was a wonderful Christian man as well as just a good old fashioned nice guy. John and I will miss him and truly appreciate his years of service in the kingdom of our Lord.
The Brookers and the Bryant family go back a long way. Marvin and dad knew each other at Harding College. I’ve always loved and admired Marvin, his easy going ways and good sense of humor. We’ll miss him tremendously. Our prayers are with the family for God’s comfort and peace.
My prayers are with you Mrs. Brooker and your family. I have many memories of Mr. Brooker and his beautiful voice leading the church in song. Hugs are sent your way! Shelli
Inez and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Marvin was a fine christian man and had one of the most beautiful tenor voices. He will surely be missed. Please let me know if I can be of any help to anyone in the family.
Inez and family, we are so sorry to hear of Marvin’s passing. May you find peace in the difficult times to come, knowing that Marvin touched so many lives living for his Savior. We will think of Marvin everytime we look at the rosebush he gave us upon your visit to our home. Mel and Janis Hall
Inez, Sandra, and Don,Delbert and my hearts are heavy for you. From what I understand, Marvin left this earth quickly while he was still active in this earthly life. Reminds me of my father’s death 23 years ago. A shock to those that loved him but a wonderful exit for our Daddy. I could visulize his big smie and twinkle in his eye and could imagine him saying, “Sorry to leave you but I am in Heaven so be happy for me.” One difference in your situation and mine, is Marvin could sing while LH Thornhill was not blessed with a musical ear or a singing voice. I have loved Marvin since he married one of my favorite cousins. I loved the senior Dr. Brooker. I remember being a student nurse in Jacksonville in the early 60’s and loving to visit the Brookers. What a wonderful, Christian man and what a legacy he leaves behind. I can honestly say that I have never heard and unkind work voiced about Marvin. God bless and keep you! Carolyn Thornhill Roe.
I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Brooker. He was a wonderful leader and great Christian example. He always seemed to have a smile and a kind word. His presence in the church will be greatly missed. I will keep the family in my prayers. God Bless all of you.
We are saddened by the passing of your husband, Marvin. We appreciated so many of his wonderful qualities–kindness, faithfulness and generosity. He was an example to us as a devoted husband and a devoted Christian man. His leadership in the church, his beautiful voice and his smile will be missed. We are praying for all in the family. In Christian love.
Mr. Brooker was a nice person to talk to! I”ll miss him talking about his trip to Lima, Peru!! Where i’m from! YOu’ll be missed Sir! May God bless the Brooker family.
I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. He was a wonderful man and will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with y’all!
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Marvin was a faithful servant. He will be missed.