AUGUSTA and NEWPORT – Marilyn Elizabeth Brooks, 80, passed away June 11, 2012, at Gray Birch Rehabilitation & Nursing Care, Augusta. She was born Oct. 19, 1931, in Dexter, daughter of John Dudley and Marjorie Helen (Farr) Mosley.
She was educated in Dexter, graduating from N.H. Fay High School, class of 1950. Working first as a clerical assistant for attorney Bartolo Siciliano in Dexter, she next moved to Augusta to accept a position with the state of Maine. She married the love of her life, Ralph Joseph Brooks, Nov. 8, 1952, in Augusta. Moving first to Bangor and Old Town, they settled in Newport, where she was active in town affairs and local organizations, having served as president of the Business and Professional Woman’s Club and Barrows-Skidgel Unit No. 105, American Legion Auxiliary, as worthy matron of Nokomis Chapter No. 42, Order of the Eastern Star, and as an officer of Sebasticook Valley Snowmobile Club, to name a few. During the 1960s and 1970s, Marilyn served several terms as Republican state committeewoman representing Penobscot County. This service at the state level was followed by her service to American Legion Auxiliary at the state level, where she served as fifth district president, as the chairman of a number of program committees, and many years as the State Constitution, Bylaws & Standing Rules Committee chairman, service that continued until she was physically unable. During this time, she continued her professional life working for U.S. Farmers Home Administration, Newport, man aging the Bangor office of the U.S. Census Bureau for the 1970 census, obtaining her real estate broker’s license, and operating Brooks & Brooks Real Estate and Insurance Agency, Newport, with her husband, Ralph. She returned to work for the U.S. Census Bureau as a surveyor. After the death of her husband in 1986, she relocated to Augusta, to be closer to her daughter, and began her employment as assistant to the chief of dietary services at Togus Veterans Affairs Medical Center, from which she retired in 1998. Even after retirement from work, her community service continued. During this time, she served as state president and then state secretary of La Femmes, an organization with connection to the American Legion Auxiliary, and as secretary of the board of directors of Beals Hospitality House, a non-profit organization offering free lodging to the family of veterans hospitalized at Togus VAMC, located on the Togus grounds, and was continuing to serve as an alternate board member at the time of her death.
In addition to her parents, Marilyn was predeceased by her husband, Ralph, a World War II veteran; brother, Eugene, who died in World War II; brother, Philip, a World War II veteran; and sisters, Arlene Creech and Ruth Soucie. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Raymond; son-in-law, David Raymond; granddaughter, Kathryn Raymond; sister, Janet Woodward; sisters-in-law, Betty Mosley and Eleanor Brooks; brothers-in-law, the Rev. David Creech and Norman Soucie; stepson, Donald Brooks; many loving nieces and nephews. She will be missed by many. The family especially thanks Nathan Harmon, D.O., for the excellent and compassionate care provided to Marilyn during this long journey, as well as several members of the staff at Gray Birch for the love and care shown, you know who you are.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit 11 a.m.-noon Wednesday, June 20, at Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home, One Church St., Augusta, where a celebration of Marilyn’s life will begin at noon. Interment will be immediately after at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Drive, Augusta. After interment, friends are invited to join the family at the home of her daughter. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beals Hospitality House, 1 VA Center, Togus, ME 04330. Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at
www.khrfuneralhomes.com.