On April 9, 2008, Gail Irene Brooks went home. Shorty, as her father called her, was born May 6, 1944, in Garberville, Calif.

She was preceded in death by father George E. Boyer, mother Alice Boyer and son George E. Brooks.

She is survived by sisters Jean Zachary, of Crescent City, Marian King, of Sebastopol, Helen Simpson, of Alton, Florence Wolf, of Riddle, Ore., and Donna Evans, of Blue Lake.

She is also survived by children Deborah Brooks, of Garberville, Rebecca McFarland, of Redway, Christina Brooks, of Myers Flat, and Keith Brooks, of Garberville; and grandchildren Beth, Stephen, Jordan, Keith, Joseph, Brian, Johnny, Rayanna, Chance, Chase, Taylor and Raigan.

Gail has a large family who will miss her desperately.

She was, besides a good mother, an artist, carpenter, homemaker, musician, teacher, rodeo queen, cowgirl, genealogist, bookkeeper, caregiver and a loyal friend. She had the rare ability to see the good in everyone. We were blessed who knew her.

Family and friends are invited to gather at New Wine Fellowship in the Meadows Business Park behind DMV for a celebration of her life at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, 2008. A graveside interment service will follow at the lower gate of the Garberville Cemetery, with a reception after at New Wine Fellowship. There will be a potluck dinner.

A private viewing for close family and friends will be at Goble’s Fortuna Mortuary on Friday, April 18, 2008, from 1-5 p.m.