Elizabeth Mae Brooker

Elizabeth Mae (Betty) Brooker passed away on December 6, 2013. Betty was born at Oakland, California, on September 2, 1927, the only child of Theodore and Gladys Brooker. She grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, where she graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1945. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 1949, one of the first women to earn a degree in Architecture, and served as class secretary for many years. After graduation she worked for the American Institute of Architects and several architecture firms in Kansas City.

She was a member of Friends of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kansas City Lyric Opera Guild, the Lawrence-Kansas City Society of the Archaeological Institute of America where she served as Secretary-Treasurer for many years, and the K.U. Alumni Association. A devoted K.U. alumna, Betty made several international trips with the Flying Jayhawks, sometimes as a group leader, and was also a major supporter of Friends of the K.U. Library where, from 1999 through 2001, she served as President-elect, President, and President Emerita of the Friends.

An equally dedicated volunteer activity was her enthusiastic and devoted efforts for Theatre Lawrence (formerly Lawrence Community Theatre), where she was in charge of intermission hospitality and became famously known as “the cookie lady.” Quoting a fellow volunteer, “Betty was not only a perfectionist about that job; she disproved the ‘No one is irreplaceable’ theory. She was irreplaceable when it came to the intermission treats. The custom of the beautiful homemade treat table left us when she did.” The Theatre acknowledged Betty’s work by twice giving her its “Charley Award” for dedicated volunteers.
Her friends remember her as always cheerful, helpful and generous with her time and energy. Contributions in Betty’s memory may be made to Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Dr., Lawrence, KS 66049 or to K.U. Library Enrichment, P. O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044.