Harold Edward ‘Ed’ Brooks passed peacefully of natural causes at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, Montana, February 7, 2024. May his sweet, funny, gentle soul rest in peace.
Ed was born in Lewistown, Montana, to Arlene O’Reilly May 26, 1939. He was adopted and raised by Lillian ‘Ma’ Brooks. He attended school in Lewistown graduating from Fergus High School in 1958. Through school Ed held many jobs including selling papers, racking bowling pins, sacking groceries and working at the local dairy.
After high school Ed and two friends, Tinker Nielsen (future bother-in-law) and Alan Murlow, enlisted in the United States Navy together and headed to boot camp in San Diego, CA. He completed his four years as an electrician’s mate, returning to Lewistown for a couple months. During this respite from the Navy, he married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Patricia ‘Pat’ Nielsen.
Ed re-enlisted in the Navy and spent a total of 24 years serving his country retiring in 1982. His Navy career took him to Navy bases in Hawaii (twice), Long Beach and San Diego. Ed served on salvage ships (USS Abnaki and USS Brunswick) a repair ship (USS Hector) and a refueling ship (USS Ponchatoula). He also was a Navy recruiter in Glendive MT and a boot camp instructor in Great Lakes IL. He retired at the highest enlisted rank of Master Chief.
After the Navy, Ed returned to his beloved state of Montana settling down in Helena. He took a job as a janitor at Jim Darcy Elementary for the next 18 years. Ed thoroughly enjoyed and loved his time with the children at the school and they returned it in kind. Ed and Pat built their dream house in the Helena valley with the help of family and friends. He also pursued his love of hunting, fishing, floating, camping, gardening and just tinkering. Ed was an avid reader (and sleeper) as Pat can attest to the libraries in the spare rooms of their home.
Ed is survived by his wife Pat, son’s Terry and Kory and his sibling Leila Benson, and O’Reilly siblings Jim, John, Barbara, Mary, Tim, Tom and Theresa. Ed is also survived by grandchildren Nicole Bushnell, Colter, Danielle, Hunter and Noah Brooks.
Ed was preceded in death by Ma Brooks and his sister Kay, Arlene O’Reilly and O’Reilly siblings Patti, Mike, Kathy and Doug. Ed is also preceded by grandson Jesse Brooks.
Interment will take place at Fort Harrison, Montana with Military Honors on Friday, June 28, 2024 at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (www.nmcrs.org) in Ed’s Memory. Condolences can be shared at www.aswfuneralhome.com.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Nan Wheatley says
Pat
Moe and I are so sorry to hear about Ed’s passing !! He was a great man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Nan and Moe
Kim Norman says
Pat
So sorry to hear of Ed’s passing.
I worked at Jim Darcy School with Ed.
The staff and kids really loved him.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Chuck and Kim Norman
Allan Merlau says
Pat
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss Pat. Ed and I go back a long way, graduated from Fergus High School, joined the Navy along with Tinker and I after High School. Ed has been a great friend through the years…! Going to miss him a lot…!
Our thoughts and prayers will be with you Pat and family.
Allan & Carol Merlau
Dan and Lonnie Collings says
Pat and family
So sad to hear of Ed’s passing. He was such a great man and we all loved him at Darcy! Ed use to have morning break with the paras and me (at that time I was the secretary). On our morning break Ed would join the ladies(4-5) of us, and we had so much laughter (sometimes causing Ed to blush). There are so many stories of Ed – to many to mention here. He will be missed! Prayers to you and your family.
Dan and Lonnie Collings
Mark Machler says
Sorry to hear of Ed’s passing.
Mark Machler
Lewistown
Trevor Newman says
Eddy Brooks is the name I was always familiar with. He was my mother’s brother. The few times I met him, when he found I I was teaching history in Helena. He gave me several books and told me to “learn the real history” to teach. We weren’t close but he helped my mom a lot with taking care of things. Pat and family keeping you in my thoughts.