Obituaries

Elizabeth McClure Brooks

Photo of Elizabeth McClure Brooks
Elizabeth McClure Brooks of Fayetteville, the only child of John Guy McClure and Bytha Elizabeth McClure, was born Nov. 15, 1931, in Hot Springs, Ark. She died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband, Lt. Col. Harold J. Perry, U.S. Army Ret.; her daughter, Evelyn Elizabeth Brooks; and four grandchildren, Elizabeth, McClure, Max and Maison Brooks-Tolley. Formerly of Little Rock, Elizabeth graduated from law school in June of 1963, and after some years in private practice in Malvern, joined the staff of the Attorney General in Little Rock, and then the Legal Aid Bureau. At Union National Bank, she worked as a trust officer, and headed a department counseling women on financial matters and retirement. She was an attorney for the Arkansas Department of Labor, and was then appointed as acting director of the Department of Labor by Governor Bill Clinton. She was the first woman appointed to head an Arkansas regulatory commission when she was appointed by Governor Dale Bumpers to head the State Regulatory Commission on Mobile Homes. She was chair of the Arkansas Women's Committee on Public Affairs, and served as a longtime board member for Lighthouse for the Blind. She was a two-time past president of the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers. Her contributions included serving as state president of the Business and Professional Women's Organization (BPW), president of the Greater Little Rock Women's Club, chair of the board of Business Women's Social Services, president of the Little Rock Women's City Club and president of the Little Rock chapter of Altrusa International Inc. She was a 60-plus year member of the Order of Eastern Star and was past state president of that organization. She was a member of the international fraternal organization Daughters of the Nile. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Fayetteville. She was involved throughout her life in organizations to benefit the advancement of women, and was the first of three generations of women to become Arkansas lawyers, or will be the first of three with the May law school graduation (and subsequent licensing) of her granddaughter. She was a cherished and beloved mother, wife and grandmother. Visitation will be held 4–6 p.m. Sunday at Moore's Chapel. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14, at Moore's Chapel with a graveside service at 3:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Malvern, Ark., under the direction of Moore's Chapel. To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

Published January 12, 2013

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