Benefit activities slated for Brooks family this weekend
June 12, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
On May 20, the Washburn Fire Department suffered the tragic loss of one of its longest serving members. Larry “David” Brooks lost his life after a lengthy battle with cancer. To both honor his memory and assist with the various expenses left behind the wake of his passing, several charity events will be hosted in Washburn on Saturday, June 15.
Brooks lived in Washburn most of his life and spent the majority of his life working at Northwest Arkansas Sheet Metal. In his off-time, he worked as a volunteer firefighter for the Washburn Fire Department.
Brooks was close to Washburn fire chief Danny Dalton. According to Dalton, the two not only served as members of the fire department together but also went through school together.
“He went through school with me. We graduated together in ‘81,” said Dalton.
Brooks then spent some time living with his wife, Judy, in Exeter before the two moved to Washburn where he became a firefighter in July 1998.
“He was a great guy who was always willing to help people with whatever they needed,” said Dalton. “He helped out on medical calls, fire calls, accidents and everything until his health got bad a few years ago.”
“[The Washburn Fire Department] thought it would be a good gesture to have a fundraiser to help pay for the funeral expenses,” said Dalton. “We want to do what we can to help the family.”
There are a couple of events organized to help the Brooks family in the wake of his passing. The first of these events will be a poker run organized by Tori Smith, of Mercy Hospital Pharmacy. Registration for the run will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Southwest High School in Washburn. Entry for the poker run will cost $20 for the first hand and $10 for each additional hand.
Drivers will stop at five different locations in Missouri and Arkansas. At each stop, the driver will draw a card, assembling a full poker hand by the end of the run. The winner of the event will be the driver who arrives at the final stop with the best hand.
Both cars and motorcycles are welcome to attend the poker run. Registration closes and the last vehicle will leave the lot at 2:30 p.m.
Both the first and the last card of the run will be drawn at Southwest High School. Additional stops include: Pied Piper, in Eureka Springs, Ark.; Pea Ridge High School, in Pea Ridge, Ark.; Longview Cafe, in Longview; and the parking lot across the street from Fastrip in Wheaton.
All attendees must be back at the final stop at Southwest High by 5:30 p.m. for the final drawing. Prizes will be given to the best and the worst hands of the run. All proceeds from the poker run will be donated to the Brooks family to pay for medical and funeral expenses.
The Washburn Fire Department organized a dinner and auction that will take place at Southwest High School at 6 p.m., immediately after the poker run.
Dinner is $7 per person, with kids age four and under eating for free. Dinner includes, pulled pork, brisket, baked beans, coleslaw and a dessert item. Entertainment during the dinner will be provided by local bluegrass band The Flyin’ Buzzards.
The fundraiser event will also include a live auction that will begin at 7 p.m. Items for the auction include: several pallets of assorted goods donated by Wal-Mart; 100 pounds of feed; two loads of gravel; a 30/30 Marlin Rifle with a walnut stock; gift certificates for free nights at Pied Piper, in Eureka Springs, Ark.; and several other items that have yet to be announced.
At the end of the live auction, there will be a raffle for a Henry Golden Boy Rifle. Tickets for the raffle will be available throughout the fundraiser and will cost attendees $10 per chance.
Donations can also be made through an account at People’s Community Bank, in Washburn. All checks need to be made out to Washburn Fire Department.
All proceeds from the fundraiser events will go to Brooks’ funeral expenses.
Judy Brooks, David’s widow, was moved by these gestures from the community.
“I am humbled by all the support the community has given us,” said Brooks.
Registration for the poker run will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the final card will be drawn at 5:30 p.m. The fundraiser will begin immediately after at 6 p.m., with the auction beginning at 7 p.m. For more information on the poker run, call or text (417) 847-7476 or (417) 846-3683. For more information on the fundraiser event, contact Washburn fire chief Danny Dalton at (417) 847-7972 or Jason Shrum at (417) 342-0313.
Vinnie Roberts
On May 20, the Washburn Fire Department suffered the tragic loss of one of its longest serving members. Larry “David” Brooks lost his life after a lengthy battle with cancer. To both honor his memory and assist with the various expenses left behind the wake of his passing, several charity events will be hosted in Washburn on Saturday, June 15.
Brooks lived in Washburn most of his life and spent the majority of his life working at Northwest Arkansas Sheet Metal. In his off-time, he worked as a volunteer firefighter for the Washburn Fire Department.
Brooks was close to Washburn fire chief Danny Dalton. According to Dalton, the two not only served as members of the fire department together but also went through school together.
“He went through school with me. We graduated together in ‘81,” said Dalton.
Brooks then spent some time living with his wife, Judy, in Exeter before the two moved to Washburn where he became a firefighter in July 1998.
“He was a great guy who was always willing to help people with whatever they needed,” said Dalton. “He helped out on medical calls, fire calls, accidents and everything until his health got bad a few years ago.”
“[The Washburn Fire Department] thought it would be a good gesture to have a fundraiser to help pay for the funeral expenses,” said Dalton. “We want to do what we can to help the family.”
There are a couple of events organized to help the Brooks family in the wake of his passing. The first of these events will be a poker run organized by Tori Smith, of Mercy Hospital Pharmacy. Registration for the run will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Southwest High School in Washburn. Entry for the poker run will cost $20 for the first hand and $10 for each additional hand.
Drivers will stop at five different locations in Missouri and Arkansas. At each stop, the driver will draw a card, assembling a full poker hand by the end of the run. The winner of the event will be the driver who arrives at the final stop with the best hand.
Both cars and motorcycles are welcome to attend the poker run. Registration closes and the last vehicle will leave the lot at 2:30 p.m.
Both the first and the last card of the run will be drawn at Southwest High School. Additional stops include: Pied Piper, in Eureka Springs, Ark.; Pea Ridge High School, in Pea Ridge, Ark.; Longview Cafe, in Longview; and the parking lot across the street from Fastrip in Wheaton.
All attendees must be back at the final stop at Southwest High by 5:30 p.m. for the final drawing. Prizes will be given to the best and the worst hands of the run. All proceeds from the poker run will be donated to the Brooks family to pay for medical and funeral expenses.
The Washburn Fire Department organized a dinner and auction that will take place at Southwest High School at 6 p.m., immediately after the poker run.
Dinner is $7 per person, with kids age four and under eating for free. Dinner includes, pulled pork, brisket, baked beans, coleslaw and a dessert item. Entertainment during the dinner will be provided by local bluegrass band The Flyin’ Buzzards.
The fundraiser event will also include a live auction that will begin at 7 p.m. Items for the auction include: several pallets of assorted goods donated by Wal-Mart; 100 pounds of feed; two loads of gravel; a 30/30 Marlin Rifle with a walnut stock; gift certificates for free nights at Pied Piper, in Eureka Springs, Ark.; and several other items that have yet to be announced.
At the end of the live auction, there will be a raffle for a Henry Golden Boy Rifle. Tickets for the raffle will be available throughout the fundraiser and will cost attendees $10 per chance.
Donations can also be made through an account at People’s Community Bank, in Washburn. All checks need to be made out to Washburn Fire Department.
All proceeds from the fundraiser events will go to Brooks’ funeral expenses.
Judy Brooks, David’s widow, was moved by these gestures from the community.
“I am humbled by all the support the community has given us,” said Brooks.
Registration for the poker run will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the final card will be drawn at 5:30 p.m. The fundraiser will begin immediately after at 6 p.m., with the auction beginning at 7 p.m. For more information on the poker run, call or text (417) 847-7476 or (417) 846-3683. For more information on the fundraiser event, contact Washburn fire chief Danny Dalton at (417) 847-7972 or Jason Shrum at (417) 342-0313.