Michael Thomas Brooks

Born on August 22, 1945 in Longview, Texas, Mike was the son of itinerant farm workers, Addie B. Brooks and Geneva (Campbell) Brooks. Much of his early childhood was spent traveling with his family to pick various crops. Although the family struggled financially, he never thought of himself as poor and instead remembered a happy childhood with a lot of fun and laughter. The family lived for a number of years in Troutdale, Oregon, before settling in the Yakima Valley, near Wapato, Washington. Mike graduated from Wapato High School in 1958 where he was a champion wrestler and was known to his fellow wrestlers as “Mickey Mouse.”

In December, 1964 he married Corry Stone. They had three children, Doug, David and Heather. He later married the love of his life, Mary Reid, and acquired two more daughters, Angela and Misty.

Mike joined the Army in May, 1966 and served in Vietnam, where he flew OH-13 helicopters for the First Infantry Division while stationed at Lai Khe. He earned numerous medals and commendations for acts of heroism and bravery, many times risking his own life to save those of his fellow soldiers. His experiences in Vietnam had a profound impact on him and he listened to folk music from that era for the rest of his life. After coming home from Vietnam he became a flight instructor at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia. He later flew helicopters professionally as a crop duster, for the timber industry, and memorably, delivering Santa Claus to shopping malls for Christmas photos, before studying instrumentation at Perry Trade School in Yakima. He, Corry and their children made their homes in Yakima, Snohomish County, and Hilo, Hawaii where he worked in instrumentation for a sugar beet factory. In the early 1980s he and his business partner and childhood friend, George Wirsching, formed Automation Services, Inc., which specialized in designing and installing industrial control panels. They traveled throughout the country automating factories, employing as many as 50 local electricians and other workers for each job. James Hardie Gypsum was a major client. The success of ASI allowed Mike to retire at the age of 54, giving him the time to finally enjoy his many varied interests.

Mike had a keen intellectual curiosity, and was interested in topics ranging from science to astronomy to physics, history, politics, and the natural world. In his 70s he took courses in algebra and calculus at the local college, but only after ensuring that he was not occupying a seat that was needed by another student. He enjoyed a variety of pursuits, notably, building his own stills and distilling excellent corn whiskey, vodka and rum (he even built a still in his office at ASI, the function of which mystified his secretary, Barbara). He loved his garden and flowers and his koi pond, and for a while tried his hand at glassblowing. He raised ducks and chickens, and liked aquariums and ant farms. He once purchased mealworms from the pet store and assisted a mother robin with feeding her babies so that they would fledge sooner because he wanted to trim the shrub where they were nesting. It seemed he was always conducting some sort of experiment or another. He had an intuitive understanding of how things worked and there wasn’t much he couldn’t fix with electrical tape and a pair of pliers. He wore flip flops and Hawaiian shirts even in the snow and could entertain himself for hours just sitting and thinking.

Mike loved a good joke, a good steak, and a good party. His Fourth of July firework displays were legendary. He was an avid reader and never stopped learning. If he saw something that he was curious about he wouldn’t hesitate to stop and ask questions, taking a genuine interest in everyone and everything. He inherited a talent for storytelling from his father and later in life discovered a talent for writing when he was inspired by NPR’s Three Minute Fiction contest to write a short story. This led to the recounting many of his experiences in Vietnam in a collection of powerful and compelling short stories. He loved Mexico, where he spent many years wintering in an RV with his wife Mary, particularly in the oceanside village of Rincon de Guayabitos, where they were often joined by their children and grandchildren. People gravitated to him wherever he went, and his many Mexican friends greeted their beloved “Miguel” with open arms. He became passably fluent in Spanish and enjoyed many happy days drinking Pacifico on the beach and enjoying the sunshine and warm tropical climate. He was an excellent tour guide and loved showing the sights to visiting family and friends in the Jeep, which over the years lost its doors and top and notoriously refused to start in the afternoons, insisting on taking a siesta. He and Mary traveled extensively throughout Mexico with friends, even driving their 40-foot motorhome to the southern border with Guatemala at Chiapas. More than once taco stands and other street vendors had to be moved out of the way after getting the motorhome stuck on narrow Mexican streets. They also traveled throughout the United States and to Vietnam and Thailand, and spent two months traveling through Africa experiencing the wildlife and culture. In later years they had a second home in the Sonoran desert near Goodyear, Arizona.

Mike was truly colorblind. He accepted people of all races, genders and identities for who they were and never judged. He loved his family deeply, including his two dogs, Minnie and Elle, and his cat Roadie, and they loved him. He was patient and generous. He faced life with love, humor, courage and integrity, and will continue to be a source of joy and inspiration to us all through the many life lessons he taught us.

Mike is survived by his wife, Mary, sons, Doug and David, stepdaughters, Angela and Misty, “adopted” son Jeff, grandchildren, Kyler, Madison, Miko, TJ, and Kitty, great-grandchildren Lincoln, Asher, Evelyn and Audrey, nieces Sherry, Ginni, and Elaine, nephew Daniel, and their families. Mike was preceded to the other side by his mother and father, brother Dave, sister Alice, niece Dixie, and his beloved daughter, Heather. A celebration of a life well-lived, complete with fireworks and steak, will be held at his home in Tulalip on September 10, 2022. Donations in his memory are suggested to organizations that provide aid to wounded veterans, or to the charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SchaeferShipmanFuneral.com for the Brooks family.