Jeanette Louise Brooks-Milano was born Oct. 30, 1952,iin Bakersfield, California to Robert and Ruth Brooks. The family moved to Washington state when she was 10. She spent her youth on the family farm and graduated from Toledo High School in 1971. She received an associate of science degree from Centralia College. She then attended Central Washington College (University) and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in psychology and a teaching degree. She later obtained her master’s degree in counseling psychology from St. Martin’s University.
Her working career involved substitute teaching, working with developmentally disabled adults and working as a family counselor. She was working as a counselor supervisor for The Institute of Family Development at her retirement.
She was married in 1988 to Michael Milano. They lived in Centralia, but spent many vacations fishing, hiking and bird watching at various lakes and rivers in Eastern Washington. She was an avid amateur photographer. Her photos won many awards at various local fairs and graced her yearly calendars for friends and family.
Jeanette passed away from complications from her long fight with pancreatic cancer on Jan. 13, 2023.
She was preceded in death by her parents, niece Amanda Blurton, nephew Benjamin Brooks, and brother-in-law Hugh Blurton Jr.
She is survived by her husband Michael; her stepson Michael C. (Tracy) Milano of Palouse; brothers David (Beth) Brooks of Copalis, Stephen (Dorene) Brooks of Walla Walla, and Daniel (Loretta) Brooks of West Richland; sisters Sally (Jim) Dingman of Toledo and Adeena Blurton of Rochester; and many nieces and nephews.
