James Michael Brooner, age 61, loving husband, father, and grandfather and life long Wellington resident, passed away at his home on Friday morning, November 9, 2007. He was retired from the Santa Fe Railroad. His current jobs were substitute teaching, farming, and radio announcing particularly for the Wellington Crusader Football games.

James Michael Brooner was born on November 11, 1945 to Howard W. Brooner and Frances M. Cavender Brooner. Mike was a Wellington High School graduate with the Class of 1963. After high school he attended college at Kansas State University and Wichita University. He served in the United States Army from September of 1967 to May of 1969.

Mike married Elaine Morris on May 27, 1967 in Wichita, KS. They celebrated 40 years of marriage this past May.

Mike was an avid sports fan. He loved to work with kids and really enjoyed substituting at Oxford and South Haven, KS. He also enjoyed fishing and relaxing at their cabin at Grand Lake, OK.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his niece Sarah Lynn Shore Baker.

Survivors include his wife Elaine Brooner of Wellington, KS; one son Jake Brooner of Wellington, KS; one daughter Kim Becker and her husband Mark of Mayfield, KS; one sister Patricia Hook and her husband Gene of Mayfield, KS; two grandchildren Matthew and Mitchell Becker; step-mother Maxine Brooner; step-brother Robert Robinson; step- sister Nancy Cathers; step-aunt Marvella DeBuhr; nieces and nephews include Jack T. III and Keri Row, J. T. Row IV, Michael Row, Melissa Row, Diana Row, Katie Row, William H. and Tonya Row, Trenton Row, Noah Row, Jesse Shore, Shelby Shore, Miranda Shore, Priscilla and Richard Rowley, Donovon Rowley, Ethan Rowley, Faith Rowley, and Grace Rowley.

Funeral Services will be held at the First Christian Church on Tuesday, November 13 at 2:00 P.M. Chaplain Randy Bane will officiate. Interment will follow the service at Prairie Lawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, November 11, 2007 from 1:00 – 9:00 P.M. and on Monday, November 12, 2007 from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. The family will greet friends on Monday evening from 7:00 – 9:00 P.M.

A memorial has been established with the whs.cc Scholarship Fund. Contributions can be left or mailed to the funeral home.

Frank Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.