Nancy Ellen Brooks

Nancy Ellen Evans Brooks, 86, passed away June 12, 2019 at her home in Franklin, NC.

Nancy was born August 25, 1932 in Larwill, IN, to Ralph and Merle Evans. She lived in Fort Wayne, IN and Bokeelia, FL, earning her B.S in Education Management at Indiana University. She taught at Fort Wayne Community Schools as an elementary school teacher. She especially loved teaching her students about history and literature.

During her teens, Nancy was a lifeguard, who continued on in the swimming world as one of the first female swim coaches of her day. A few of Nancy’s swimmers went to the Olympics. During her later years, Nancy and Bob ran a successful art gallery in Bokeelia, FL.

Nancy is preceded in death by her first spouse, David Cowdrey; second spouse, Robert F. Brooks; son, Jeffery D. Crowrey; and daughter, Cheryl Cowdrey Decker.

She is survived by her beloved dog, Foster, who was her world; grandson, Scott Kress of Elizabethtown, KY; granddaughters Jennifer Kress of Largo, FL and Lindsey Brost (Zach) of Louisville, KY; step-granddaughters, Barbara Tritch Stewart of Fort Wayne, IN, Jeanne Tritch of Fort Wayne, IN, Katie Drake of Magnolia, TX, Kindree Mieling of Mount Prospect, CA, and Margaret Brooks of Fort Wayne, IN; step-grandsons, Dan Knoepfle of San Francisco, CA, John Knoepfle of Arlington Heights, IL, and Robert Brooks of Bozeman, MT; stepson, John R. Brooks of Roanoke, IN; stepdaughters, Patty Tritch of Fort Wayne, IN, Rinn Knoepfle (Tom) of Fort Wayne, IN, and Jeanne Drake (Andy) of Magnolia, TX.

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