Dorothy Moyers Brooks

Dorothy M. Brooks

On March 29, 2021, Dorothy Moyers Brooks, 98, passed away peacefully.

For 50 years, Dot brought joy and beauty to countless lives as a talented floral designer and gardener. She devoted much of her life to educating people about flowers and judging flower shows across the U.S. as a Master Judge of the National Council of State Garden Clubs. “My desire in life was to make the world brighter and lives lighter with the love of flowers,” she wrote. Herself a recipient of multiple awards for floral designs, Dot was an active member of the Sunset Garden Club of Blount County. She regularly provided floral arrangements for the altar of her church, Broadway United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, and for special events for friends and family.

In 1942, during World War II, Dot began a long and dedicated career at the Aluminum Company of America in Alcoa, Tennessee, when she took a job as an expediter. She was proud to serve her country as a “Rosie the Riveter.”

Dot traveled the world extensively with her husband of 45 years, Gene Brooks, who served in the Army Air Corps, 69th Fighter Squadron (Pacific Theater), from 1942-1945. Favorite memories were visiting the Holy Land and traveling down the Amazon River.

She and Gene were longtime supporters of Lincoln Memorial University, where Dot attended in 1942, and in 1994, the Brooks Reading Room at LMU was named in their honor. Dot was chosen as a charter member of the LMU Bridge Builder’s Heritage Society in recognition of a lifetime of support.

Dot is preceded in death by her husband; parents Dewey Moyers and Lena Rogers Moyers of Speedwell; brothers Earl Moyers of Speedwell and Bill Moyers of Maryville; and nephew David Moyers of Maryville. She is survived by her sister Norma Moyers Foster; nieces Cindy Foster Lloyd, Jennifer Foster Huffstetler and Amanda Foster Johnson; nephew Danny Moyers; other nieces, nephews, cousins and great-nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at Sherwood Chapel and Memorial Gardens, Alcoa, on April 1 at 3 p.m. The family requests all guests wear masks and observe social distancing. Friends and family may sign a guest book beginning March 31 at McCammon Ammons Click Funeral Home, Maryville.

The family conveys heartfelt thanks to the nursing staff of 6East at UT Medical Center, who cared for Dot with compassion, skill and dignity in her final days. They also recognize and thank Rachel at Life Care Center of Blount County.

Flowers will be donated to Random Acts of Flowers. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dot’s memory can be made to the organization, to your favorite garden club or to Broadway United Methodist Church. As a breast cancer and stroke survivor, Dot also would ask that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.