Jessica 'Debbie' A. Brooks

COLEBROOK – Jessica A, “Debbie,” Brooks, 97, of Colebrook died Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, the day of her 77th wedding anniversary. She died in the arms of her granddaughter, Deanna, in her own beloved home. Family members were honored to be able to spend time and provide care for Debbie during her last few weeks. Debbie was born on Sept. 4, 1926, in West Stewartstown, the daughter of the late Wesley and Ella (McPheters) Ladd. She grew up in a large, busy family and often spoke of the close relationship she had with her mother. More recently, she loved to tell stories of her childhood and teenage years. She graduated from Canaan Memorial High School in 1944. Debbie worked at Howard’s Restaurant in Colebrook and then Beecher Falls Manufacturing (later known as Ethan Allen Furnishings) where she met the love of her life, Wayne Brooks, who had just returned home after serving with the Army in Burma. They were married on Nov. 19, 1946. During their 44 years of marriage they lived in Canaan, Clarksville, and Colebrook, always residing in the North Country. As a loving wife and mother, Debbie supported her husband in his endeavors, relished her role as homemaker, and loved raising her family of five children. She always enjoyed maintaining her yard and working in her flower gardens. After her husband’s retirement, they appreciated their daily walks on the hill and in the woods behind their home. Over the years, Debbie became very proficient at many daily word puzzles. She always thought they kept her mind “sharp.’ She loved having coffee or lunch with friends, and lately she loved watching the world go by while sitting on her front porch. Phone calls and visits from grandchildren, and notes, drawings, and paper crafts arriving in the mailbox from great-grandchildren were precious to Debbie. She always looked forward to family gatherings. And she especially loved having “the little ones” at these gatherings, first her own children, then grandchildren, and eventually great-grandchildren. Her home was always overflowing on Thanksgiving, her favorite holiday. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her loving husband, Wayne, in 1990, their stillborn son in 1967, beloved daughter, Jean Lawton, in 2016, two sisters, Grathia Bryant and Iola Boire, and seven brothers, Howard, Gilman, Earl, Elwin, Abner, Sanford, and Gerald Ladd. She is survived by her loving children and their spouses, Curtis Brooks of Effingham, NH; Douglas Brooks and Virginia of Colebrook; Ronald Brooks and Dawn of Gilmanton Iron Works, NH; and Linda and Thomas McCarthy of Exeter, NH; her grandchildren, Karen Chao, Jeff Brooks, James Brooks, Corina Brooks, Megen Kuhn, Kerry Hasler-Brooks, Adam Brooks, Jacob Brooks, Deanna Crawford, Cherilyn Drouin, Linda Smith, Michael Thurston, and Caitlin Thurston; her eighteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson; and one sister, Edvina ‘Peanut’ Lyons. Calling hours will be held on Monday, Nov. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. A funeral will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 11 a.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Colebrook. A graveside service will be held later in the spring of 2024 in the Stewartstown Hollow Cemetery, of which notice will be given. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mrs. Brooks may be made to the Two Rivers Ride for Cancer, P.O. Box 376, Colebrook, NH 03576; or to CureSMA, 925 Busse Rd., Elk Grove, IL 60007, or online at www.curesma.org. Condolences may be offered on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.

Jessica 'Debbie' A. Brooks

September 4, 1926 - November 19, 2023