Jennifer W. Brooks

BROOKS, Jennifer “Jeni” Susan Watts, 65, of Colorado Springs, died February 14, 2010, at St. Francis Medical Center, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Durham, NC, but grew up in Huntsville, AL. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roscoe Preston Watts and Hortense Burmah Watts. She is survived by her husband, Austin Renard Brooks, her daughter, Laurie Kjel Brooks of Frederick, Colorado, her son, Jonathan Renard Brooks, his wife Megan, also of Frederick, and three grandchildren who called her “Nanny,” Greyson Renard Brooks, Hunter Maxwell Brooks, and Kendall Skye Brooks. Other survivors include a brother Richard Preston Watts of Huntsville, AL and his wife Jean, and three nephews, Steve Watts, Brian Watts, and John Watts, also of Huntsville, and many good and true friends.

Jeni started her career as a Registered Nurse in Huntsville after graduating from Emory University in Atlanta in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and was extremely instrumental in bringing the first well baby clinic to the area. She began her Master’s Degree in Administrative Science at the University of Alabama in Hunstville, then moved to Darnestown, Maryland in 1979 and commuted back to Alabama to finish her master’s degree in 1980. She went on to have a successful career in Human Resources Management with various government contractors who provided computer and communication systems, eventually working as a Campus Relations Manager with Lockheed Martin the last eleven years of her career.

She was a devoted and beloved wife and mother. Her passions included family, photography, traveling, classical music, and watching Alabama football. She had fond memories of trips to Antarctica, Africa, and multiple countries in Europe, most notably Austria and Switzerland, which were her favorites. The photographs she took during her travels are amazing. She will always be remembered by her family and friends as a special person who had an astounding drive to accomplish whatever she set her mind to.

Her family and friends wish to extend heartfelt thanks to all the physicians and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, who cared for her during her long and arduous battle with cancer. Thanks especially to Dr. Nathaniel M. Pascual of Colorado Springs and the nursing staff in the ICU at St. Francis Medical Center in Colorado Springs, whose care and compassion the past few weeks was incredible. Thanks also to all of her friends and family across the country who have provided their support and encouragement.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 PM Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at the Swan Law Funeral Home at 501 North Cascade Ave., in Colorado Springs. A memorial service to celebrate Jeni’s life will be held at 1 PM on Thursday at the First United Methodist Church of Colorado Springs at 420 North Nevada Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Penrose St. Francis Health Foundation Cancer Fund at 2222 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80907. Condolences may be registered at www.mem.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.