Lucy Brooks
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Lucy Rae Brooks passed away gracefully at Caleo Bay Alzheimer's Care Center in La Quinta, California, on July 17, 2017. Lucy was born in Chinook, Montana, to Bessie and Domenico Renda, on August 31, 1930. She grew up with her siblings, William Renda, Rowena Sargent, Virginia Isbell, and Joseph Renda.
Lucy was the proud mother of two daughters and one son: Susan Porter, Colleen Freemon, and Brian Bailey. She was married to James Barrier for some 30 wonderful years before he was taken by cancer in 2000. She then married Carl Brooks in 2008 in a remarkable bond of love and devotion until his passing just last month.
Lucy was always a high achiever. Her high school extracurricular activities included band, gymnastics, dance, piano, chorus, drama, and anything else offered – preferably with music. Her successful professional career started with a degree from Northern Montana State University in medical stenography, leading her to a Naval hospital as secretary to the chief surgeon, which won her accolades that were repeated her entire career. Her talent in training and organization, and interest in quality management, led her to the personnel profession, with her most recent position being Personnel Director for the county of Santa Ana, from where she retired.
Even as a housewife and full-time mother to her children, she championed the subject of sex education in public schools and also became President of the Western States Women's Auxiliary to the American Medical Association. Later, as President of the Bermuda Dunes Women's Golf Association she worked to change various bylaws that were discriminatory to women.
Her passions centered on music, spirituality, and physical fitness. She was an excellent pianist and sang in the choirs of Southwest Church and Desert Springs Church. She discovered golf in the 1970s, was immediately hooked, and it became a life-long passion. In her later years she was a daily regular at the PGA West Fitness Center doing Pilates, Yoga, Rumba, etc. Her volunteer work reflected those same passions and spiritual devotion, with many years of chorus singing, bible studies, long-time volunteering for the Bob Hope Classic, and even ushering at McCallum Theatre.
Lucy is survived by her sisters Rowena Sargent and Virginia Isbell, her son Brian Bailey, granddaughter Nichole Minice and her husband Frank Minice, and great-grandchildren John and Bailey Minice as well as many nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions can be made in Lucy's name to the Alzheimer's Association http://www.alz.org. A celebration of life event will be held in La Quinta this fall, and you may email for more information at lucybrooks1930@gmail.com.
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