Kenneth (Ken) Brooks was born in Savannah, Georgia on March 8, 1954 to the late Milton and Edyth Brooks. He passed away suddenly on December 17, 2023 in Manteca, California.

   Ken spent his younger years in Los Gatos, California, graduating from Los Gatos High School, where he played football, and then attending San Jose State University where he majored in Business. His interest in business and love of animals led him to open his own horse ranch, where he bred and showed Championship horses, provided horse riding lessons and boarding services. Later he went on to become a successful sales manager for TIFCO, where he worked for 36 years until his death.

   Ken moved to Manteca in 1991 when he met and married the love of his life, Linda. From that point, his whole world centered around his family. He continued to love sports, animals, and gun collecting, but filtered his interests through family activities. He spent seven years coaching Manteca Little League; would go on family outings to baseball and football (big 49ers fan) games; used his Championship golf skills to teach his sons to golf; bought a trailer to take his family on camping trips by the ocean; and always had a family dog.

   Ken will be remembered as a family man of deep faith, kind, giving and generous. He leaves behind his wife of 33 years, Linda, his children Destiny Valaer, Ryan (Joey) Valaer and Nick Brooks, all of Manteca.  He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Jake Valaer and Jason Burch; and his brother Ron (Katie) Brooks of Washington; his sisters-in-law, Nancy (Mike) Rhodes of Washington, Patty Oliver and Stephanie Higgins of Manteca; and his many nephews and nieces.

   P.L. Fry & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the Brooks family. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 11 a.m. at P.L. Fry & Son Funeral Home, 290 N. Union Road, Manteca, CA.  An online guestbook is available for condolences at www.plfryandson.com.

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin

Wednesday , January 17, 2024