Brooke Wiig Lynes

Brooke Wiig Lynes

Ludlow, MA - Brooke, age 89, lately of Ludlow, MA, died peacefully on July 1, 2025, following a long illness.

She was born in 1935 in Pyramid, Nevada, the only daughter of Francesca and Beverly Blackmer and the only white child ever born in that township.She spent her early years on Big Canyon ranch overlooking Pyramid Lake, Nevada. Brooke was placed in a catholic convent during the war before moving to the then territory of Hawai'i. She attended Punahou School and the Cambridge School of Westin before enrolling in Mount Holyoke College. In 1954 she married her lifelong love David Twining Lynes in Hawai'i, deferring her college education to raise their four children, Jon Twining Lynes, Robin Lynes Harmatz, Geoffrey Lynes, and David Malcolm Lynes in New Jersey, Wisconsin, New York, Windsor, and Cummington, MA. She and David taught and established a school for students with learning challenges and she was a fierce and lifelong proponent of education. Moving to Cummington in 1972, they created Big Enough Farm, and established a life of self sufficiency, community involvement and creativity for all who visited there. Brooke resumed her college education at Mount Holyoke College in the 1980's and graduated in 1982 as one of the first Frances Perkins Scholars. She majored in sculpture and poetry and was a student of the sculptor Leonard DeLonga. Brooke maintained her own forge and was an active sculptor and artist for the years to come, exploring lost wax bronze casting, metalwork, watercolors and abstract art. Brooke was a lifelong traveler and particularly loved traveling to Central America in Antigua, Guatemala. In retirement, after the passing of her husband David, Brooke traveled the country in an RV for nearly 20 years before settling back at Pyramid Lake, Nevada where she became an active member of the arts community and was particularly thrilled to work on sculptures displayed at Burning Man. She returned to Massachusetts in her final years and found meaningful engagement in the community of Ludlow, MA. She made warm connections and new friendships at Keystone Commons, the Ludlow Senior Center and Library. She continued to be an active volunteer reading to children, and "paying it forward" with wit and generosity.

Throughout her life, Brooke resisted the narrow confines of social expectations of women of her day. She was a fierce advocate for women's education, neurodivergent individuals, animal rights, the rights of indigenous peoples and those who are marginalized. She willingly fostered social interactions with her therapy dogs, most recently, Keeper. Brooke was curious and could sit down and talk with anyone in any setting to strike up a conversation. She was known for being forthright and sometimes blunt, but she was a sensitive soul, and cared deeply for all. She was proud beyond measure of her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren and nurtured close relationships with her extended family.

Brooke was preceded in death by her parents and her half-brothers, Malcolm, Donald, Bruce, and Gordon, and her beloved husband, David. She is survived by her sons and and daughters-in-law- Jon and Andi Lynes, Geoffrey and Judy Lynes, and David and Deborah Lynes, and daughter, Robin (Ziva) Harmatz, her cherished grandchildren, Bekah Lynes, Jonathan Lynes, Simon Lynes, Samantha Lynes, Stephanie Lakin, and Niki Lynes, and her great-grandchildren, Dominic Paradise and Brooklyn Lakin who were her joy. The family would like to express gratitude to Baystate Hospice Care for loving and exemplary care in Brooke's final weeks of life. This care made it possible for the family to celebrate her life each day with her in comfort despite her illness.

The funeral will be held at 1:00pm, July 21, 2025 at the West Cummington Church followed by a gathering in the Parish House. Internment be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to T.J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center.

Arrangements are entrusted to Douglass Funeral Home. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com