Mar. 11, 1942 - Dec. 20, 2012
Barbara Rose Brooks of Bend, Oregon, age 70, died of a massive brain hemorrhage on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, at the St. Charles Hospital in Bend.
Born on Mar. 11, 1942, in Salem, Oregon, to Joseph and Louise Brooks, she was the first of two children. Barbara was the big sister to her brother, Roger (Bud) Brooks, of Portland. Barbara grew up in Salem, attending Grant Grade School, Parrish Junior High and North Salem High. She graduated in 1960. While at North Salem High, she played trombone in the pep band, participated in many social programs and was Honored Queen in the Job's Daughters. In the summers, she was a lifeguard at Olinger Swimming Pool. After graduation, she attended Oregon College of Education. After college, she went into data processing working for the State of Oregon. Later she moved to Portland to work in the U.S. Bank's data center, and then Tektronix. Barbara was active in the Oregon Women's Political Caucus - rising to the position of Chair. Barbara was a great animal lover and always had at least one K-9 buddy living and traveling with her. She will be best remembered for the cadre of close friends she made and kept throughout her life. She was the proverbial "life of the party." As a great storyteller, she could turn a mild event into uproarious laughter. Barb loved to travel with her dear friend, Donna Wilkerson. They spent their summers in their Deschutes River home where they enjoyed kayaking and golfing. In the winters, they traveled throughout the United States and Mexico in their motor home. Barbara is survived by her long time companion, Donna Wilkerson; her brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Linda Brooks; her nephews, Wade and Jason Brooks; her grand-nephews, CJ, Hayden and Joe Brook and her grand-niece, Heather; great-grandniece, Leila and adopted grandson, Random Sahr. Barbara is also survived and will be fondly remembered by her "adopted" family of Heather and Scott Jeffrey, and their children, Ella and Nikayla and Kyle and Venus McBride. In lieu of a funeral, a Celebration of Life will be held Sun., Jan. 13, 2013, from 2 - 4 p.m. at the McMenamins Old Church & Pub, 30340 SW Boones Ferry Rd., Wilsonville, OR. All of Barbara's friends are welcome to attend and bring their best BB stories.