LOUELLA CLARA BROOKINGS HOLMES, 83, passed away on Sunday January 29, 2006 at the Burton Care Center in Burlington, WA after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease..
She was born on January 8, 1923 in Tuthill, South Dakota, the daughter of Walter & Clara Peters Brookings. She resided there with her family until 1929 when they moved to Montana where she attended school. The family settled in Sedro-Woolley in 1937 and Louella attended and graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School in 1942. Shortly after, Louella and Wes were married and they had two sons, Lynn and Doug residing in Sedro-Woolley until moving to Burlington in 1999.
Louella worked as a cook at United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley for a few years and later worked for Community Service with elderly people and also as a cook at the Senior Center.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sedro-Woolley and also a member of Faith Baptist Church in Burlington. She taught Sunday school at both churches for over 30 years. Louella loved life and her family. She loved to cook and entertain, work in her flower beds, and raise toy fox terriers.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Wes at the family home in Burlington. 2 sons, Lynn Holmes and his wife, Barbara of Oak Harbor and Doug Holmes and his wife, Becke of Poulsbo. 7 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. 2 sisters, Myrtle Greenough and Doris Kester of Sedro-Woolley and 1 brother, Eddie Brookings of Conrad, MT. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Laura Schultz and 3 brothers, Charles, George, and Eugene Brookings. The family wishes to thank those who provided care for Louella especially Doris Kester, Agnes Seward, and Maureen Van Hoyt.
Visitation will be Thursday and Friday from 9AM to 5PM and Friday evening from 7PM to 8PM at Lemley Chapel.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2006 at 11:00AM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley with Pastor James Shaw of Faith Baptist Church officiating with interment to follow at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. A reception will follow the services at Faith Baptist Church 800 Rio Vista Ave in Burlington.