Royal Harvard Brooks Jr, age 96, died in his home surrounded by family on Feb. 4, 2024. He was born on May 7, 1927, in Riverside, California to Royal Harvard Brooks, Sr. and Hazel Vanessa Brooks. He was married to Anita June Loe Brooks, and they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on Sept. 2, 1949.
Royal was raised in Riverside, California, and Eugene, Oregon, with his mother and three siblings: Vivian, Phyllis and Loren. He served in the Merchant Marines and the Army during World War II for the United States of America. He was a civil and agricultural engineer with a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and master’s and doctorate degrees from Colorado State University.
Royal worked as a researcher and professor at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. He started international work in 1977, spending a total of seven years working in Egypt and seven years Yemen. In both countries, he headed up water use and irrigation projects working for the U.S. State Department, Agency for International Development. He assisted those countries in leading water management and irrigation programs to become more self-sufficient. Royal was beloved by the people he worked with in Egypt and Yemen.
Royal was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in multiple callings including Branch Presidents, Bishoprics and High Counselor. He served in the Portland Oregon Temple for 20 years and was an avid family history researcher, submitting over 20,000 names to the temple registry.
Royal was very active and talented hobbyist throughout his life, enjoying cooking, sourdough bread baking, woodworking, gardening, clock repair and genealogy. He loved to share his bread, soup and garden with loved ones and neighbors far and wide.
Royal is preceded in death by his daughter Vivian Rae Brooks and wife Anita. He is survived by his children: David Brooks (Taunya Brooks) of Odgen, Utah; Shauna Hull (Charles Hull) of Saint George, Utah; Kevin Brooks (Maureen Brooks) of Las Vegas, Nevada; Randall Brooks of Saint George, Utah; Kathleen Brooks of Lake Oswego, Oregon; and Erin Shorten (Justin Shorten) of Colton, Oregon; his grandchildren: Charlet Mallet, Beau Brooks, Shawn Brooks, Geoff Brooks, Jamison Brooks, Kimberly Brooks, Jennifer Ruh, Matt Brooks, Tara Pacheco, Cameron Brooks, Blake Brooks, Cameron Hill, Seth Giandomenico and Cole Giandomenico; and 28 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m. in the Westridge Ward Chapel, 415 Westridge Drive, St. George, Utah. A visitation will be held Friday, prior to services, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the church.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 14, at noon in the Sunset Hills Cemetery, Eugene, Oregon, where he will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife Anita.
Arrangements are under the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Click here to visit the Metcalf Mortuary website for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.