Lorraine Magdalena Gales Brockett

Lorraine was born on Monday, February 4, 1924 in White Lake, SD. She was one of three children born to William and Mary (Thiry) Gales. She was raised and received her primary education in White Lake and then attended the University of South Dakota. Lorraine was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and graduated from South Dakota State University with a BS with Honors in Home Economics.
Following graduation, Lorraine briefly attended graduate school before she began teaching in Sedgwick, Colorado, where she met her husband, John Brockett. He was in town working on an engineering project and happened to sit next to her at a slideshow presentation by a teacher at her school. They began dating and were eventually married on May 28, 1953 in White Lake, SD. Following their marriage, they lived in Spokane and Kennewick, WA, but settled in Eugene, OR, where they raised their five children; Karen, Jean, David, Ann, and Janet. The Brocketts were active members of St. Mary's parish in Eugene where Lorraine also served as a Eucharist Minister. In the 1980s, she and John moved back to Spokane until his retirement in 1991, when they settled in Forest Grove. John passed away on September 12, 2011.
Lorraine was a loving and devoted wife to John and mother to her five children. After the kids were all school-age, she taught for a few years before accepting a position as a Teacher's Aide at South Eugene High School, where she worked until her retirement and made many lasting friendships. Throughout her life, she was an active volunteer: at her church, children's schools and at the Forest Grove Senior Center, helping with Meals on Wheels. Lorraine enjoyed walking and could be seen on her way to Sunday mass at St. Anthony's even after she turned ninety. Lorraine was an avid reader, listened to opera whenever she could, and was an excellent seamstress and baker. She and John occasionally traveled to visit family and friends both in the U.S. and abroad; but she preferred to spend time at home and to be close to her family and many friends in Oregon.
Lorraine is preceded in death by her loving husband, John; her parents; and two siblings, Leo Gales and Germaine Gales.
She is survived by five children and their spouses; Karen Brockett of Albany, Jean Gargan of Portland, David Brockett of Roseburg, Ann and Randy Hart of Wilsonville, Janet Brockett and Rich Powers of Sherwood, and seven grandchildren; Chelsea, Daniel, Nani, Katie, Matt, Artur, and Victoria.
The family suggests donations be made in Lorraine's name to St. Vincent de Paul Society of Forest Grove.