FARMINGTON – Louise Mae Crossett Brooks, 81, of Wilton, died late Thursday, July 31, at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

She was born Nov. 27, 1926, in Wilton, the only child of Arthur and Lillian (Fogg) Crossett. She was raised in Wilton, educated in local schools and graduated in 1944 from Wilton Academy.

She was employed at her father’s drugstore on Main Street, Wilton for many years. On Sept. 4, 1954, she married Arnold W. Brooks at the Wilton Congregational Church. They enjoyed 40 years of happiness. He passed away on Sept. 15, 1994. She was a devoted homemaker.

She was a longtime member of the Wilton United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed serving as the church organist for more than 30 years, playing for both the Wilton and North Jay churches, retiring in the mid 1990s. She loved music and played both the piano and organ and played for numerous weddings and funerals and participated in church fund raisers and events.

Her family and good neighbors were her priority. She enjoyed attending her son, Mark’s, sports activities and in later years, she was a devoted football, baseball and basketball fan, attending as many as possible of the games that her grandsons, Jaime and Justin, participated. She also maintained a continual letter writing “dialogue” with her son, Timothy, throughout his college experience and the years of his early employment.

She was an animal and nature lover. She especially loved the dogs and cats who shared her life over the years and was an avid gardener. She also enjoyed cooking, crafts (especially knitting) and working on crossword puzzles.

She is survived by her loving sons, Mark and his wife, Tracy Brooks, of Wilton and Timothy Brooks of Wilton; grandsons, Justin and Jaime, both of Wilton; sister-in-law, Marion Gardiner and her son, David Gardiner, both of Bradenton, Fla.; sister-in-law, Shirley Brooks of Peoria, Ill., and her children, Kathy Jergins and her husband, Richard, of Bradenton; Fla., and Danny Brooks and his wife, Vicki, of Peoria, Ill.; and numerous cousins on both sides of her family.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her folks, brothers-in-law, Everett Brooks, William “Buster” Brooks and his wife, Shirley and George Gardiner and his son, Richard Gardiner.

She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her and loved her. Her kindness, willingness to help others and unrelenting faith will always be remembered and cherished. We know she is at peace with the Lord and her lost loved ones.