Melissa Brooks

Melissa Grinnell (Coggeshall) Brooks passed away on February 1, 2019, age 67. Affectionately known to her family and friends as "Lissa", she was born June 7, 1951 in Boston, MA to the late Barbara Ann (Grinnell) and Roger Gibbs Coggeshall.

A graduate of Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury MA, Lissa attended the University of New Hampshire where she met her future husband, Curt Brooks. They settled in Effingham, NH and have one daughter, Karen. Lissa worked as the business manager for their automobile dealership in Ctr. Ossipee, NH. In her later years, she enjoyed transporting special needs children in the Governor Wentworth Regional School District until her retirement. Children, especially those with different abilities, always held a special place in her heart.

From childhood, Lissa showed a deep love for all animals, particularly horses. She was an avid equestrian, and trained and showed Morgan horses for much of her life. She also adopted rescue animals of all sizes - from her rooster (Sydney) to her Morgan horses. We trust that Lissa was greeted on February 1stwith neighing, barking, meows, and parakeet cheeps from her fur&feather family that arrived before her!

Lissa is survived by her daughter, Karen Melissa (Brooks) Chao, son-in-law San Mark Chao and grandson Ethan of Cumming, GA. Additionally, her brother Mark V. Coggeshall (Bettina) and her niece (Amanda) and nephew (Matthew) and their families, all of Columbia, MO; mourn her loss along with her extended family and many, many friends.

The family would like to thank the staff at Brigham Manor Rehabilitation Center in Newburyport for the high-quality care they provided Lissa during her convalescence. A private service will be held in the spring at Woodland Cemetery in Effingham, NH. Arrangements are being made by the Cremation Society of New Hampshire.