Lynette Brooks Barnes

Lynette Brooks, 80, of Midland, formerly of Big Spring, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her four children, on Monday, March 7, 2016, at a Midland hospital. Family will receive friends from 6:30p.m. – 8:00p.m. on Thursday, March 10th, at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home in Big Spring. Funeral services will be held at 2:00p.m, Friday, March 11th, at First Baptist Church, Big Spring with burial immediately following at Trinity Memorial Park.Lynette was born on January 14, 1936 in Kilgore, Texas to Pauline Louder Blum and Joe Blum. The family moved to Big Spring when she was a teenager. Lynette attended and graduated with the Big Spring High School Class of 1954 and enrolled at Howard College that fall. In 1955, on a blind date set up by Jann Brooks at Carlos’ Restaurant, she met Ralph Brooks (Jann’s brother), an Air Force pilot home on leave. It was love at first sight and they married three weeks later. The newlyweds were off to Germany to start their life together in the United States Air Force. Lynette was the perfect officer’s wife who kept a spotless home, a smile on her face and was ready to move to the next assignment with very short notice. A strong and devoted woman, she cared for their four children (Laura, Greg, Cindy and Mike) with love, patience and kindness as Ralph proudly served his country as a USAF fighter pilot in the Korean War, then, as a member of the USAF Thunderbirds Aerial Demonstration Team and, finally, as a fighter pilot in Vietnam. Lynette never wavered in her dedication to her family and husband, constantly looking after their well-being.When Ralph retired in 1973, the Brooks family returned to Big Spring to join Lynette’s parents’ business – Blum’s Jewelers. She was a constant fixture at the family business and enjoyed meeting and greeting customers and friends. Lynette was baptized in 1988 at First Baptist Church by Dr. Kenneth Patrick and, in recent years, she attended services at First Presbyterian Church of Midland.After Ralph’s passing in 1993 at age 62, Lynette continued to work at Blum’s with their eldest son, Greg, until she married Vess John Barnes, Jr. in 2003 and moved to Amarillo. Mr. Barnes passed in 2005 and Lynette moved to Midland for the milder winters–close enough to Big Spring to visit family and far enough away to keep Greg from putting her back to work full-time.Most recently, Lynette and her long-time friend, Colonel Harry Spannaus (USAF Retired) of Midland, were constant companions and best friends. They enjoyed traveling, Air Force reunions and glasses of wine in the evenings. Harry fulfilled her life in Midland and they held a special bond, which she cherished dearly.Lynette loved traveling with her children, going on cruises and seeing the world. She was especially fond of spending the Fall season in Angel Fire, New Mexico with Ralph. She loved the outdoors, the water and was most at peace on a beach or in a boat with the sun on her face. She kept herself busy and was constantly on the move making the most of her time. Her children and grandchildren were the dearest things in her life. Lynette was always prepared, in advance, with a phone call, gift or card for them on special occasions. She treasured being with her family. Lynette’s smile was infectious and could warm any heart. Her beautiful blue eyes welcomed everyone they graced and people knew immediately of her sweetness and gentle manner. Lynette’s kindness was paralleled by her strength–surviving two bouts of lung cancer and the deaths of her husbands and granddaughter, Christie. When faced with her greatest challenge in the most recent weeks, her most courageous act of strength was her resolution to find peace and comfort in arms of the Lord.Lynette is survived by her children: Laura and Joe Covarrubias, Jr. of Allen, Texas, Greg and Lisa Brooks of Big Spring, Cindy Barnes of Austin, Texas and Mike and Liz Brooks of Spicewood, Texas, as well as honorary family member, long-time employee and friend, Betty Gamboa; grandchildren, Adam Brooks Proctor, David Brooks and Christopher Brooks, Nicole Barnes, Allyson Barnes and Ivan Barnes, Jon Michael Brooks, Forrest Brooks and Caroline Brooks and one great-grandson, Hunter Brooks Proctor; beloved brother, Bob Blum and his wife Peggy of Cumming, Georgia and their children, Steve Blum and Karen Davidson, dear cousins Ronnie and Carolyn Blum of Dallas, Texas and August Joe and Sundee Luedecke of McCormick, South Carolina.Lynette was preceded in death by her wonderful parents, loving husbands and precious granddaughter, Christie Dianne Proctor.Pallbearers for the funeral service will be David Brooks, Christopher Brooks, Jon Michael Brooks, Forrest Brooks, Ivan Barnes and Glenn Prescott, with Adam Brooks Proctor as an honorary pallbearer.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society or other favorite charity.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences may be made at: www.npwelch.com ,