Thomas Sager Brooks, 65
Thomas Sager Brooks, 65, of Northbend, Ore., 'went to be with his Lord and Savior' on March 5, 2008, following a brief battle with lung cancer. Tom was born on Nov. 25, 1942, in Spokane and moved to Kalispell as an infant. He attended Kalispell schools and graduated from Flathead High School in 1960.
Tom met Patricia A. Franzen and they married on Aug. 17, 1963.
He served six years in the Army National Guard and worked for the Coca-Cola Company, retiring after 37 years.
He enjoyed fishing, bowling, reading, playing games, doing crossword and sudoku puzzles, spending time with his family, and helping others.
He became a Christian in 1972 when he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior. During his journey serving the Lord, he has been a deacon and a Bible teacher. He was a volunteer for a few years as a big brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Tom and Pat moved to Northbend in 1985 and helped build and start a church. During the last three years, Tom and Pat have been South Coast Hospice volunteers. Tom's love for the Lord has been evident throughout his life, and he shared that love with everyone he came into contact with. He had a wonderful sense of humor; and you knew if he teased you that he liked you. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ila Brooks Gibney and Kenneth V. Brooks; an infant brother, Robert Millard Brooks; aunt, Velma Olson; uncle, Ed Sager; and grandparents, Millard and Leona Sager.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia, two daughters, Kim Peterson and husband, Jim, of Northbend, and Patricia Hickey and husband, Robert, of Kalispell; brother, Kenneth Edwin Brooks, of Kalispell; sister, Patsee Parker, and husband, Rex, of Waldport, Ore.; five grandchildren, Pamela Peterson of Northbend, Craig Peterson, U.S. Air Force, Christina Hickey of Kalispell, Robert Thomas Hickey, U.S. Marine Corps, and wife, Michelle, and Tyler Hickey and wife, Jessica, of Kalispell; one great-grandson; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. March 22 at South Coast Hospice, 1620 Thompson Road, Coos Bay, OR 97420.
The family wishes all donations and gifts to be made to South Coast Hospice Care, 1620 Thompson Road, Coos Bay OR 97420.