NAHUNTA — Mr. Kenneth “Ken” Harold Rooks, Sr., 84 of Nahunta, passed away early Wednesday afternoon, May 6, 2026, at Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross.
Born December 1, 1941 in Fort Myers, Fla., Rooks lived in Fort Myers prior to moving to Nahunta in 2006.
He served in the U.S. Army and would go on to work for the Florida Department of Transportation for 30-plus years retiring as a supervisor. Rooks enjoyed doing projects around the house as well as hunting, fishing, and camping.
Rooks also enjoyed watching Westerns and war movies. In his later years, you could find him playing games on his iPad.
Rooks was a devoted husband, an amazing father who taught his children well, and a doting grandfather, great grandfather, and great-great grandfather.
He was a son of the late Ellis Garfield Rooks and Irene J. Salters Nash. Rooks was also preceded in death by both of his brothers, Herman Rooks and Timothy Nash.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Karen Rieske Rooks of Nahunta; two daughters, Shirley Garrett of Ft. Myers, Fla., and Dorothy Crews of Cleveland, Tenn.; two sons, Kenneth Rooks, Jr. (Susan Hall) of Blackshear and John (Brenda) Rooks of Walworth, N.Y.; a sister, Janice Fagan of Florida; a sister-in-law, Heidi Nash of Naples, Fla.; 12 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild with a second on the way in August; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services for Rooks were held Saturday
Rooks morning, May 9, 2026 from the Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jason Long officiating.
Memorialization was by cremation.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home was honored to serve the Rooks family during this time.
