Sue Joanna Brooks

February 8, 1924 Numazu, Japan - May 27, 2023 Lakewood, Washington

There is so much to say about Sue having spent 99 years orbiting the sun, that these words being written, cannot do justice to her life or memory. Indeed, she was the consummate Wife, Mother, hostess and beyond that, all of the other adjectives that come with being the youngest born of a large family, who were descents of a Samurai ruler of Japan, in what is now known as the Shizuoka Prefecture.

All who have visited Roger and Sue over the years, will recall her hospitality and generosity as she plated more food than one could eat in front of you, continuously refilled your drink and made sure you had something to take with you upon your departure. Of course all of the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids were well aware of the “Candy Drawer” filled with assorted chocolates and candies for the taking. Interestingly enough, having the “Candy Drawer” taught all of us that candy wasn’t all that special, and to this day, many do not indulge. Reverse psychology? Who knows. It did however, help the Mars Candy company stock, as all of us now choose a Snickers bar over the others.

After marrying Roger in 1952 (wed for 64 years prior to his passing in 2016), she left her family in Japan in 1955 with her new born son Edward (Carmen) Brooks and daughter Akemi (Marvin) Trondson, for the US and countries abroad, as she became the Army wife for the next 20 years. Various duty tour travels took her back home to Japan for a short stint and to Monterey California where daughter Linda (Douglas) Rix was born. While there were many stays in so many US states, one of her most favorite tours was to Hanau, Germany where the family spent 5 years and toured much of Europe on road trips.

Sue had many talents that she excelled in. An amazing seamstress, she could take a piece of string, wrap it around a few body parts and turn out incredible outfits for family and friends and passed that talent on to her two daughters. She took up floral arranging as well as oil painting and learned to play the Japanese instrument the Koto. She loved landscaping and much to Roger’s despair, directed in-ground plant movements as if they were in pots, to which he begrudgingly obliged. Their yards were always beautiful and impeccably maintained.

She was so fortunate to have grandchildren, Vanessa (Scott) Ryan, Benjamin (Erin) Brooks with kids Sloane and Adrienne, McKenzie (Ray Schartman) Brooks, Justin (Cheri)Trondson with kids Issac, Olivia and Joanna and Kirsten (Jim) Buttrum with kids Trevor and Layla.

There are many phrases that all the kids remember her saying often that are treasured in their memories. Perhaps the most fitting one for this epitaph is the one she would often say when she was ready;

“OK we go.”

She has gone.

There will be a sharing of Sue's life in a casual informal gathering with family and friends on Friday, July 14th between the hours of 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM. at the Point Defiance Japanese Pagoda. Please come anytime between those hours and join us in share your memories with family members.