Brooks Jay Smith Obituary

Brooks Jay Smith of Wooster, Ohio, passed away on August 29, 2025 at the age of 74.

Brooks was born on December 8, 1950, at Wooster General Hospital, the son of Marie (Olsen) Leady and Alonzo “Lonnie” Smith. He grew up in Wooster and graduated from Wooster High School in 1969, later attending Hocking College.

In 1975, Brooks proudly enlisted in the United States Navy, serving two years aboard the USS Denver shortly following the Vietnam War. His service instilled in him the values of resilience, discipline, and camaraderie that he carried throughout his life.

On July 15, 1978, Brooks married Patricia B. Darling. Though they later divorced, together they raised two children who were his greatest pride: Ryan and Sarah. He was also the proud grandfather of Logan, Chelsea, and Audrey.

Brooks found meaning in giving back. He volunteered with Hospice programs, sitting with terminally ill veterans in their final hours, and he contributed to prison programs that helped incarcerated individuals find meaningful work. His quiet compassion touched many lives.

An avid golfer, Brooks found serenity on the course among his friends. He loved the ocean and the peace of the beach. His musical tastes spanned from Jimmy Buffett to Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra, and he was perhaps one of the last men to smoke a pipe in public purely out of habit.

He will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, magnetic charm, and caring soul. A hard worker, Brooks instilled in his children the same dedication and perseverance he lived by. Friends and family will recall his quirky and dark sayings that often baffled but always amused, such as “I’d rather owe it to you all your life than cheat you out of it.”

Brooks’s legacy lives on in his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched.

He is survived by his loving children, Ryan (Julie) Smith of Littleton, Colorado and Sarah (Shaun) Moolman of Greer, South Carolina; three grandchildren, Logan and Chelsea Moolman and Audrey Smith; and one sister, Veronica “Lynn” Semer of Wooster.

In addition to his parents, Brooks is preceded in death by one brother, Eddie Smith; and his brother-in-law, Stephen “Steve” Semer.

An interment service will be held on Friday, September 5 at 9:45 A.M. in the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. Following the service, a Celebration of Brooks's life will be held from 3:00 - 6:00 P.M. at The Pines Golf Club, 1319 Millborne Road, Orrville, Ohio 44667.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ohio LifeCare Hospice, 1900 Akron Road, Wooster, Ohio 44691, or to Wayne County Veterans Service Office, 356 West North Street, Lower Level, Wooster, Ohio 44691.

https://www.denbowfh.com/obituaries/Brooks-Jay-Smith?obId=44910746