Ella Boyden Brooks

Bo (Boyden) Brooks September 20, 1919 ~ December 12, 2014 Bo (Boyden) Brooks died last December 12, 2014, following complications related to a fall. Bo was a very private person and had requested that no obituary be published. Her contributions to the residents of the region through her career with the Chelan County and North Central Regional Libraries deserve notice, so in lieu of an obituary, this appreciation of her life is offered. Bo was born in the family home in Roanoke, VA, on September 20, 1919. She was educated in the Roanoke public schools and graduated from Madison College in 1941. During World War II, she served as an officer in the WAVES, working in coding and communications in Norfolk, VA, and San Francisco, CA. Bo brought her Virginia grace to Wenatchee when she joined the staff of the Chelan County Library in 1948, working with Jo Pardee (Hallauer), whom she had met in the WAVES. The Bo and Jo team traversed Chelan County for years, lugging boxes of books to remote "branches" such as the Holden Mine and Stehekin. When the Chelan County Library transitioned into the North Central Regional Library, Bo was in charge of merging the collections of the libraries as they came on board. When that was all done, she suggested the idea of a mail order library and was put in charge of that program, holding the job of Director until she retired in 1981. Her exposure to the far corners of North Central Washington led to her love of the great outdoors that she found in the Pacific Northwest. She fell in love with the Oregon coast in later years and tried to visit it with friends, Annie Koinzan and Liz Eidson, whenever she could. Bo had three nieces, Ann, Bonnie and Corinne, and two nephews, Butch (who predeceased her), and Carl. Ann Brooks Herold of Cresco, IA, lived with Bo in her converted stone warehouse on the Squilchuck road for several years while attending Wenatchee Valley College and remembers that, "Bo was able to amaze her nieces and nephews during her annual visits to Roanoke to stay with her parents. When Bo was coming to Virginia, it was the BIG event of the year. My cousin Butch and I were in 7th heaven and tried to squeeze in as much time with our Aunt Bo as was humanly possible." Bo is remembered fondly by the Valaas family children, John, Andy, Joan, Lisa and Peter, who greatly enjoyed Bo's presence as a close family friend sharing many picnics, camping trips on Chikamin Creek, and holiday celebrations with the Valaas family. Bo showed us the value of reading, of thoughtful observation and reasoned commentary, and introduced us all to New Yorker cartoons. The Valaas children are honored to have known her.

Ella Boyden Brooks

September 20, 1919 - December 12, 2014