Michael Kent Brooks

Michael Kent “Mike” Brooks—devoted husband, father, brother, uncle and friend—passed away peacefully in Austin, Texas, on May 25, 2026, at the age of 64. He was born on July 10, 1961, in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Col. Ralph (USAF Ret.) and Lynette Brooks.

Growing up in an Air Force family, Mike embraced a life of movement and discovery, living in Germany, Florida, Nebraska, Virginia, Alabama and Maryland before settling in Big Spring, Texas, where he finished middle and high school and graduated in 1979. It was during those early years that he found his first job at a local nursery—and with it, a lifelong love of plants, the earth and the beauty that can be coaxed from both.

After earning his Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Texas Tech University in 1984, Mike built a remarkable 42-year career rooted in design and craftsmanship. He began at Horseshoe Bay Corp. before establishing his own nursery in Marble Falls, Texas—a venture that combined his entrepreneurial spirit with his deep love for plants and place. It was during this chapter that he met the love of his life, Liz, and so began their 39-year adventure and love story.

His professional journey then carried him abroad for nine years to Saipan and Guam, where Liz joined him in 1994, and where he contributed to resort development projects that reflected his gift for creating beauty through design. The island years also gave “Brooksie” some of the most enduring friendships of his life—bonds that remain strong to this day.

Returning to Austin in 1999, Mike continued to leave his mark through roles at TexaScapes and Elements Group, and finally, to what he would consider his crowning professional achievement: designing the sweeping development landscape for The Reserve at Lake Travis. Beyond that, Mike continued his passion through his own venture—Earth and Lake Works/DIG Landscapes. For Mike, beautifying the world one landscape at a time was never just a career. It was a calling.

Above all else, Mike’s greatest source of pride and purpose was his family. He poured himself into fatherhood at every stage—coaching youth sports with enthusiasm, cheering from the stands at every game and performance, and watching with deep pride as Jon, Forrest, and Caroline grew from children into accomplished adults. He was their most loyal fan, their steadfast encourager, and their devoted dad. His love for Liz was the steady center of their family’s life, and together they built something rare: a home full of warmth, laughter, and unconditional love. He was equally close to his three siblings, and the family bond he cherished was a reflection of the man he was—loyal, present, and all-in.

Mike was profoundly creative and visionary. He could look at a blank canvas—a bare lot, an unfinished room, a raw piece of land—and see exactly what it could become. With patience and skill, he would work that vision into reality over time, whether at his home, his beloved property, “Little Bird”, or any of the countless professional projects that bore his signature. He built things with keen purpose and beauty, and the results always spoke for themselves.

Beyond his professional life, Mike was a man who embraced the world with open arms and an adventurer’s spirit. A deep passion for outrigger canoeing connected him to the ocean and to the island communities he loved—from Micronesia and Hawaii to paddling waters across the United States. He found equal joy in biking, camping, hiking, and any pursuit that put him in the heart of nature. Music was a constant companion, and his laughter and bright smile had a way of filling every room he entered. He was spiritual, salt-of-the-earth, and lived by a quiet moral code. He was a true friend—kind, respectful, and genuinely interested in the people he met.

Throughout his cancer journey, Mike was nothing short of an inspiration. He fought hard, leaned on his faith, family and friends and met every difficult day with a smile. He faced the hardest chapter of his life with the same grace and determination he brought to everything else—and those who walked alongside him will carry that image of quiet strength forever.

Mike is survived by his beloved wife, Liz; their three children, Jon, Forrest, and Caroline; and his siblings Laura (Joe) Covarrubias, Greg (Lisa) Brooks, and Cindy Brooks. He was predeceased by his parents, Ralph and Lynette Brooks, and by his niece Christie Proctor and nephew Adam Proctor.

Mike lived with intention—fully present in every role he held, every landscape he shaped, and every moment he shared with those he loved. His kindness touched everyone around him. May his memory be a blessing to all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Visitation will be at 12:00 pm followed by a Memorial Service at 2:00 pm and Reception on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Weed, Corley & Fish Funeral Home, 411 Ranch Road 620 South, Lakeway, Texas.

All are welcome to come celebrate a life well lived. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Mike’s memory to the International Myeloma Foundation (www.myeloma.org) or the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (www.wildflower.org)