Janet (Barney) Brooks

Born on March 1, 1940, at their home in Huntington, Utah, to Stanley and Bardell (Norton) Barney, Janet was the youngest of three siblings. 

Janet spent her early years living in Price and Springville, Utah. In 1945, Janet and her family moved to Tacoma, Wash., where her parents worked in the Tacoma shipyards supporting the war efforts. Janet went to school in Tacoma and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1958. Throughout her early life, Janet enjoyed ice and roller skating, writing for her school newspaper, sewing with her mother, going to church and spending time with her friends. 

She started writing Harris Brooks Jr. while he was on an LDS mission during her senior year of high school because her good friend said he needed someone to write to. They continued to write until his mission was completed. Harris had to report for military duty in Seattle and then traveled to Tacoma to meet Janet. They met face-to-face on a Friday, and by Sunday, they were talking about marriage. They were married Sept. 1, 1959, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. 

They lived their early married years in Tacoma, where Janet worked for United Pacific Insurance Co. from 1958 to 1960. They welcomed their first daughter, Sherrie, in July 1960 and their son, Bradley, in April 1963. 

On Memorial Day weekend in 1966, Janet, Harris and their two small children, along with 6,000 apple trees, moved to Royal City, Wash. They eventually were able to purchase land on Royal Slope and started their lifelong farming adventure. While living in Royal City, they welcomed their third child Penny in January 1968 and their last child, Kimberly, in March 1970. 

Janet held many jobs throughout her years in Royal City. They included supporting the family farm and eventual orchard and working at the U&I Royal scalehouse, as a bookkeeper for B&G Farms and eventually as the bookkeeper for Weber Farms where she retired in July 2008. 

Janet’s biggest loves were her husband, four children, 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She loved the LDS church deeply along with all the callings she had, from teaching young children about the gospel to being the secretary for different organizations in the church. 

Janet has left such an amazing legacy through her work with the church and community. She left a legacy throughout her family and friends through making numerous quilts, teaching her cooking and canning skills and being a compassionate, loving and caring person.

Janet went dancing in the clouds with her love Harris on May 8, 2024. She is survived by her four children Sherrie Brooks of Fallon, Nev., Bradley (Amanda) Brooks of South Jordan, Utah, Penny Quist of Ephrata, Wash., and Kimberly (Cary) Wells of Yakima, Wash., along with 15 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews. 

Preceded in death by her husband Harris Brooks, parents Stanley and Bardell (Norton) Barney, siblings Phyllis (Calvin) Hemming and Jack (Jean Smith) Barney. 

Viewing will be held at Kayser’s Chapel of Memories in Moses Lake on Friday, May 24, 2024, from 4 to 6 p.m. Funeral service to be held at the LDS church in Royal Camp, Wash., on May 25, 2024, at 1 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to a charity of your choice supporting diabetes or kidney disease in the name of Janet Brooks.

Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser's Chapel of Memories.