Karla Calvert Rooks peacefully died at home on Monday, February 7, 2011 from complications due to heart surgery.
Karla and her two sisters, Winona Calvert Hickman and Dorothy Calvert Segar (both predeceased) were born in Tonawanda, NY, to Clarence and Minnie Calvert who relocated to Inverness, FL, in the early 1930’s. Minnie opened a florist shop, located on the site of the current Hooper Funeral Home, on SR 44 in downtown Inverness.
Karla graduated from Citrus County High School and on May 22, 1943, married Herschel Rooks, a fourth-generation Citrus County cattle rancher, at the Inverness United Methodist Church.
The young couple settled in Lecanto, where they raised cattle, farmed watermelons and developed land. In 1950, they welcomed daughter, Bertha Marie (Allen), followed by daughter Catherine (Cassidy) and a year later a son, Herschel (Sonny) Rooks, Jr.
While in Citrus County, Karla was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Crystal River; she served on the Citrus County Fair Association, Citrus County Planning & Zoning Board and actively worked to help build the Citrus County Association for Retarded Children. Karla and Herschel along with their son and his family relocated to Madison County, Florida in September 1992.
This year, they would have celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.
After relocating, it didn’t take Karla long to immerse herself into the First United Methodist Church of Madison, the Woman’s Clubs in both Greenville and Madison, and the Madison Garden Club activities.
The sorrow we feel at the passing of this beautiful lady, wife, mother, grandmother and friend, is difficult to express.
Karla is survived by husband, Herschel; Herschel (Sonny) Rooks Jr. and wife, Toby of Madison; Bertha Allen and husband, Gordie of Killarney; and Catherine Cassidy and husband, Bart of Madison; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Beggs Funeral Home, Madison, 4-7 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2011. Celebration of her life and memorial services will be held Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 11 a.m, at the First United Methodist Church of Madison. Followed by graveside service at Ebenezer Cemetery in Madison.
