Wiley Newton Brooks, age 95, passed away July 27th, 2015. Wiley was born November 11, 1919 in San Angelo, Texas and spent his early years ranching and mining in Texas and New Mexico. He served in the US Army during WWII in Europe and was awarded the purple heart and the bronze star. Following his military service he returned to New Mexico and resumed his career in the mining industry. He and his war bride, Dorothy Joan Middleton Brooks, and their three children lived in New Mexico, Canada, Utah, and Florida. After the children were raised, the mining industry gave him the opportunity to work in Ely, Pioche, Yerington, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Wyoming, and Illinois. Upon retirement, Wiley settled in Oregon until his wife of 54 years passed away in 2001. He then returned to White Pine County and took up residence near his daughter in Cherry Creek. Wiley was a lifelong member of the Elks for 73 years and was an avid outdoorsman, traveling the back roads, fishing, hunting, and gathering wood for his saddle horse making hobby. He drew a buck tag for area 12 and was looking forward to another successful hunt in the fall of 2015.
He is survived by his sons John (Deilight), Bryan, Texas; Martin (Ann), Columbus, Ohio; daughter Glenys Johnson (Flynn), Cherry Creek, Nevada; grandson Kieth, grandaughters, Tina, Rebecca, Jennie, and 9 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in Cherry Creek at 3pm September 19th, 2015.
I worked with/for Wiley in the early 70’s at Silver King Mines in Ely.
I next saw Wiley in the early 90’s in Oregon while visiting my sister who
was at that time working with/for Wiley. I saw him again in Ely some years back and was invited to Cherry Creek, but couldn’t make it.
Wiley was ageless and a good man who lived a good long life God Bless
I worked for Wiley back in 68 and 69 at the Ward Mountain Mine. He has always been a great inspiration for me and went out of his way to help me make mining my lifelong career. I will never forget him.