Brooks, Reed Alexander of Livingston, Texas traded in his wheelchair for his heavenly bass boat on Saturday August 20, 2022, at the age of 80. Reed was born on November 5, 1941, to Anne Archer Brooks and Thomas Alexander Brooks of Humble, Texas. He graduated from Humble High School in 1959 where he played football and was a member of the marching band as a cornet player. Reed went on to graduate from the University of Houston School of Pharmacy in 1966 as a member of the Phi Delta Chi fraternity.
Reed bought his first pharmacy in 1968 and continued to impact the communities he served for the next 50 years as the retail pharmacy owner-operator of South Houston Pharmacy in South Houston, Texas and Allendale Pharmacy in Pasadena, Texas and as a retail pharmacist for Brookshire Brothers in Livingston, Texas. During his time in pharmacy, Reed expanded into sterile compounding becoming one of the pioneers in home infusion therapy as part of OPTIONCare and created lifelong friendships he held dear with his OPTIONCare colleagues.
Reed was a lifelong member of Rotary and Rotary International, receiving the Paul Harris Fellow award for exceptional service and serving as President of The Rotary Club of Livingston, Texas.
He was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Livingston, Texas for more than 20 years. He was also an active member of Faith in Practice for over 20 years. His mission work in Guatemala and the Guatemalan people were dear to him and his Faith in Practice colleagues held a special place in his heart.
Reed enjoyed the time spent mentoring young local students and especially enjoyed the time spent mentoring foreign exchange students from Brazil. Fred Elias, one of the foreign exchange students, became like a member of the family in Livingston.
In addition to mentoring young students, Dad also mentored scores of pharmacy students through the Preceptor Program at the University of Houston, created lifelong friendships with fellow pharmacy colleagues and supported the growth and development of pharmacy technicians as committed to caring for the community as he was. Dad’s colleagues and friends learned to appreciate his wit and silly antics and loved him for the laughter he brought to their lives.
Dad loved Lake Livingston as much as he loved pharmacy and his friends. He was especially fond of the peninsula committee meetings and the members of the committee. He was a selfless host and shared his home, boat and laughter with all who visited him on the lake. Countless friends, family and guests were bounced about on the innertubes and rockets pulled by Dad in his boat across the lake.
Reed is survived by his wife of 31 years, Paulette Brooks and his dogs Maggie and Logan. His three children, Monica Brooks and partner Cynthia Campman, Reed Brooks and wife Pam Brooks, Michele Brooks-Cappi and husband Louis Cappi and their mother Micki Brown, his brother Tommy Brooks and wife Cathy Brooks, sister Anne Gears, four nieces and one nephew. Reed has four granddaughters, Ashley Brooks and husband David Norelid, Madison Greenawalt and husband Matt Greenawalt, Grace Brooks and Sophie Brooks.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Faith in Practice in Reed’s name, Team 760.
Mass will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Livingston, Texas on September 17, 2022, at 10am followed by a Celebration of Life. |
