Dorothy Brooks

Dorothy Rhea Brooks passed away on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at Emeritus at Bear Creek (formerly Brighton Gardens) in Colorado Springs after a short illness.

Dorothy was born on February 27, 1923 in Norton County, Kansas on the family farm as the second of five children and the only daughter to Mae Brautigam and Orville Van Baker. She attended school in Almena, Kansas and graduated from Almena Rural High School in 1941. In 1945, Dorothy attended St. Mary Hospital School of Nursing in Manhattan, Kansas and earned her RN degree. After receiving her degree, she worked for a short time at the hospital in Norton, Kansas. She later attended post graduate school at Baylor University for her surgical nursing specialty. On October 26, 1946, Dorothy married Roy Herbert Brooks in Norton, Kansas and they celebrated 59 years of marriage until Roy’s death in 2006. In 1955, Roy and Dorothy made the decision to make Colorado Springs home. Dorothy worked for St. Francis Hospital in the surgery unit until 1957. After 1957, “Brooksie” went to work for the Orthopaedic Association in Colorado Springs and continued her employment there until retirement in 1986. As a long time resident of the Springs, Dorothy was an active member of the First Christian Church, the Colorado American Legion Auxiliary #5, the Monte Rosa Rebekah Lodge, the Colorado Nurses’ Association, and the Association of Operating Nurses (AORN). She served in many volunteer and leadership positions within these organizations. She was also a registered parliamentarian.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and two brothers, George and Kelsey Baker. She is survived by two brothers, Orville Baker of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Henry Baker of Shelton, Washington. She is also survived by four nieces – Carol Merrion of Colorado Springs; Paula Harris of Encampment, Wyoming; Mary Hill of Center Conway, New Hampshire and Elizabeth Baker of Bellevue, Washington; five nephews – John Baker of Bremerton, Washington; Brian and Michael Baker of Seattle Washington; Thomas Baker of Shelton, Washington; and Paul Baker of West Nyack, New York; plus seven great-nieces, five great-nephews, two great-great-nieces and one great-great nephew.

Entombment will be at Memorial Gardens, Abbey of Angels, 3825 Airport Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado. A memorial service will be held at 10 A.M. on December 4, 2010, at the First Christian Church, 16 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs with the Reverend Charles Blaisdell presiding. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Memorial Gardens Cemetery & Funeral Home, Colorado Springs, CO.