Farest Elwood Brooks, who resided in Paris, Arkansas, passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith. He was born December 5, 1944 in Texarkana, Arkansas to the late Farest Elton Brooks and Hazel Claudine (Snead) Brooks. He was 66 years old.

Elwood was a retired high school principal for the Paris Public School System. After his retirement, he became principal for St. Joseph Catholic School in Paris. In 1996, he received the State of Arkansas Principal of the Year. He served on the Paris City Council for several years and was a coach. He was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Quails Unlimited, and member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Paris.

He was an avid gardener and loved bird hunting and fishing.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 27th at Brotherton Funeral Home Chapel in Paris, with Rev. Larry Pool officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Paris, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home in Paris.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Lynda of the home; one daughter, Laura Witt and husband Mike of Magazine; two sons, Steven Brooks of West Helena and Ryan Brooks and wife Mandi of Little Rock; two sisters, Janis Echols and husband Jerry of Lake Palestine, Texas and Cherry Pool and husband Larry of Midlothian, Texas; five grandchildren, Bridget, Ethan, Jesse, Daniel, and Harrison.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Barham, Joe Schluterman, Bill Wright, Doug Davis, David Cravens, Bill Elsken, Atlas Ratliff,and Dale Erwin.

Family will visit with friends 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon at the funeral home.

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.