Norma Jean Carpenter Nixon

Norma Jean was born on December 9, 1925, in the Skyline area of Portland, Oregon to Emma Charlotte (Krueger) and Josephus Xanthic Brooks. Three and a half years later, Jean was blessed with a sister Fawn, and the two Brooks girls were dear and close sisters for the rest of their lives. Emma and Joe raised the girls with faith, integrity, reverence for nature, respect for all, and a deep love of family and friends.

Norma Jean, known as Jean by most of us, was proud to boast that she had 50 first cousins! Family connections and joyful get-togethers were tremendously important to Jean. She and Fawn were often the ring leaders for many celebrations. If you were friends with Emma, Joe, Jean and Fawn, you were family. And if you were family, you were always welcomed.

Jean’s family connections also extended into the past with her sincere devotion to the family history and genealogy. She collected data, and family stories wrote notebooks full of chronicles and anecdotes that brought to life the rich and deep story of the Krueger and Brooks families.

After graduation from Oregon State University, Jean worked as a home economics teacher and 4H extension agent. She loved adventure and travel and made summer trips to Hawaii as well as a significant bicycle tour in Europe after World War II. After a few years teaching in Medford, Oregon, Jean moved to California, took a position with the Fresno School District and married Charles F. Carpenter, the Fresno School Superintendent. Jean and Charles thoroughly enjoyed their time together in Fresno as well as many travels and an adorable little cabin in Morro Bay. After over 20 happy years of marriage, Charles passed away and Jean moved back to the Portland area to be close to her mom and all those cousins.

Jean then reconnected with her college friend, Bob Nixon, and the family again extended to include the joyful Nixon clan. Bob and Jean were married and lived in Forest Grove, just across the valley from where Jean was born and raised. They were active in the Forest Grove community, and Jean enjoyed her connection with PEO, Japanese Ikebana classes, gardening, drawing and painting, and researching more family history to include the Nixons. And there was always family – with Bob’s daughters Sue and Linda as well as all the Nixon, Krueger and Brooks relations! Jean and Bob hosted the Krueger family reunions and many community and family holidays at their loving Forest Grove home.

After her dear Bob passed away in 2022, Jean moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, to be close to her niece Sally and nephew Paul and was beloved by an additional set of friends while continuing her numerous and joyful family connections. She was a Facebook friend to so many and always had a brilliant and delightful comment to share in support of all.

Please share your prayers, remembrances, and love together with us on the online guestbook at skylinememorialgardens.com. Memorial offerings may be made to The Shriners Children’s Hospital Portland, the Oregon Zoo Foundation or the Oregon Humane Society of Portland.