Barbara A. Brooks, 72, passed away peacefully on Oct. 28 at Cove’s Edge in Damariscotta with her loving family by her side. She was born in East Boothbay on July 8, 1940, the daughter of the late Carl and Helen Woodward Rice. She grew up in East Boothbay and attended local schools.
While growing up she spent a lot of time with her family at Mill Pond, skating in the wintertime and swimming in the summertime. She always had a good time with her brothers and sisters.
She loved stock car racing and could always be found weekly at a local racetrack. She enjoyed watching her son-in-law, Charlie, and grandsons Chuck, Joey and Zac race and would travel to various tracks all over the state of Maine to see them.
Her family was very important to her and she never missed a birthday or special event. She loved each and every one of her family members and was willing to do anything for anyone of them.
She was known as “Nanny” to all who knew her. She could be found throughout the week at one of her girls’ houses or childcare centers. The girls loved this because she was always willing to lend a hand with children and chores.
Barbara’s signature dish was her famous chocolate fudge, which no one has yet to recreate, although many have tried. She enjoyed spending time shopping and walking around stores like Ames and Walmart for hours, usually running into a variety of people she knew along the way.
She loved taking trips to “Here’s the Scoop” in Dresden where she would enjoy her favorite dish of orange pineapple ice cream.
She was a sentimental and crafty woman who enjoyed scrapbooking. She made each member of her family a personalized scrapbook which will now be cherished more so than ever.
Barbara was a wonderful lady and a friend to all that knew her. Her family enjoyed spending time together and recounting the stories she would tell of her childhood memories growing up in East Boothbay.
She was predeceased by her siblings, Weston, Gordon, Betty, John, Louie, and Skipper Rice; and grandson, Keith Lavallee II.
Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Alden Brooks of Alna; daughters, Debbie Colby and husband Charlie of Edgecomb, Laurie Creamer and husband Joe of Woolwich, and Rhonda Lavallee and husband Keith of Bowdonham; son, Stephen Brooks and companion Ty Speck of Mt. Shasta, Cal.; brothers, Clifton Rice and wife Peggy of Westport and Harland Rice and wife Louise of East Boothbay; sister, Janice Grant and husband Buddy of Edgecomb; grandchildren, Chuck Colby and wife Casey of Wiscasset, Joey Creamer and wife Jessica of Woolwich, Zac Creamer and companion Danielle Green of Woolwich, Briana Lavallee and companion Zac Stanton of Wiscasset, and Beck Lavallee and companion Taylor Dudley of Bowdonham; great-grandchildren, Tiger and Kailee Colby of Wiscasset, Paiden and Cole Creamer of Woolwich, Miller Stanton of Wiscasset, and Jillian Lavallee of Bowdonham; special niece and caregiver, Shana York, who loved her auntie dearly; and nieces and nephews, Alan, Mindy, Kerrin, Timmy, Alan, Eugene, and Ronnie.
Graveside service 11 a.m., Sat., Nov. 10 at Ocean View Cemetery Boothbay.
