Bernice Jean Olson Brooks' Obituary
“She was special,” said her primary care physician upon learning of the death of Bernice Jean
Olson Brooks, who passed away on April 8, 2023. Jean was born on November 12, 1929, in
Bemidji, Minnesota, to Ray and Jonnie Olson… and boy, was she ever their darling princess!
She enjoyed a special group of five schoolmates, girls who remained devoted to each other
throughout their entire lives. Jean graduated from The University of Minnesota where she was
an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She married James Robert “Jim” Brooks, and in
1964, his job with Cargill required them to be transferred to Memphis, Tennessee, with their
four young children. They had a cadre of “Yankee” transplants to help them with the transition
from North to South and grew to love this city, making many new friendships through work,
volunteerism, and The Church of the Holy Communion. Jean was a member of The Junior
League of Memphis, earned her Master’s Degree in Reading from The University of Memphis,
and taught at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, Lausanne Collegiate School, and St. George’s
Independent School. She was superb in countless ways as a daughter, sister, wife, mother,
friend, teacher, tutor, Nana, and great-grandmother. Loyal, funny, sincere, stubborn, brilliant,
witty, multi-talented, and curious—Jean was always up for an adventure! Her mantra was, “If
you want something done, learn to do it yourself!” From cooking, sewing, refinishing furniture,
painting, to hanging wallpaper — Jean did just that: she did it herself. Her mother taught her
about the stock market, and she deftly traded stocks for over forty years. She was one of the
first in Memphis to buy an Apple computer (which arrived in eleven boxes), assembled it, and
taught herself coding pre-You Tube tutorial days. She was a sucker for a Hallmark movie,
Broadway musicals, a Florida beach, a rousing cribbage or Scrabble game, reading, gardening,
a good flea market, dear friends, a grandchild’s latest paramour, her many students, and a
McDonald’s cheeseburger with LARGE fries. She adored being involved with her big, busy
family and was always the first to volunteer, “What can I bring?” to a happy (often raucous)
gathering. This unique woman with a million-dollar smile was our treasured matriarch and
queen… and we are heartbroken today, but know she is dancing with the angels now.
Jean was predeceased by her husband, Jim; her parents, J.Raymond and Jonnie McMaster
Olson; her parents-in-law, James Andrew and Jesse C. Brooks; her brother, Jay Raymond
Olson, Jr.; her sister-in-law, Vonnie Brooks Kenney and husband, Bill; and her nephew, John
Kenney. She leaves her four children, Cindy (Rick) Winchester of Memphis; Craig (Wendy)
Brooks of Nashville; Jay (Missy) Brooks of Birmingham; and Pam (Scott ) Gallagher of
Nashville; her cousin, Mudge Hanson of Minneapolis, MN; her sister-in-law, Lynie Olson of
Naples, FL; and five nieces and nephews. She also has a beautiful contingent of eleven
grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren who will miss her dearly.
A memorial service for Jean will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at St. George’s
Episcopal Church at 1 p.m. with burial to follow at Memorial Park. In her memory, please call a
friend, bake some banana bread or strawberry tarts, can a batch of tomatoes, pick some
flowers, feed the birds, tell a funny story, laugh loudly, or say a heartfelt prayer. If one is so
inclined, donations to Church Health, St. George’s Episcopal Church, or a charity of the donor’s
choice may be made in her memory, also.
What’s your fondest memory of Bernice?
What’s a lesson you learned from Bernice?
Share a story where Bernice's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Bernice you’ll never forget.
How did Bernice make you smile?