Sallie Brinks

With a warm smile and a welcoming heart, Sallie Ann Brinks lived a life rich in faith, family, and friends. Sallie embodied the principles of her faith, welcoming each day as a gift and never hesitating to serve others. Whether gathering around a campfire with friends, tending her home, traveling with her beloved, walking the beach, or celebrating a holiday with her treasured family, Sallie lived life to the fullest. Sallie was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who proved a powerful role model for how to live a wholehearted life.

1946 found people around the world expecting a better life than before the war years and the Great Depression. As the Baby Boomer years began, American prosperity grew like never before in our history; hope sprang eternal. The United Nations and UNICEF were created, the BBC returned to the airways, the first programmable electronic computer was unveiled, and Tupperware was first introduced to U.S. consumers. Nowhere was there more hope for the future than in the home of Millard and Elsie (Erickson) Bell as they welcomed their daughter, Sallie Ann, on September 12 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The youngest of two, Sallie's sister Mary was two years older. The family lived on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, and Sallie's father owned a business in Newaygo. As Sallie's mother died in 1956, and her father was gone often, she and Mary became the charges of several hired nannies. It was alleged that she and her sister ran off more than one nanny.

Sallie attended Riverside Elementary and Creston High School, where she enjoyed a great group of friends. A natural artist, Sallie liked drawing, sketching, and some painting. After graduating with the class of 1964, she decided to further her training at Kendall School of Art and Design, where she earned a two-year degree.

While camping in Grand Haven, Sallie had the good fortune of meeting fellow camper Dave Brinks. The pair struck up a conversation and decided on a first date at a coffee shop in Grand Haven. While on that fateful date, Sallie admitted that she couldn't remember his name. Dave replied jokingly, "That's okay. I thought your name was Sue."

With their hearts set on building a future together, Sallie and Dave happily married on November 25, 1966, at Grand Rapids Grace Episcopal Church. Following a honeymoon in Florida, the newlyweds returned to Grand Rapids and made their first home in a rented upstairs apartment on the southwest side of the city.

While Dave worked as an electrician, Sallie worked in interior design. In 1971, the couple joyfully became parents when their first of three sons, Chris, was born. Brent was born in 1975, and Jason completed the family in 1976. The family home was on Escott NW, and the boys spent a lot of time outside; maybe their mom locked them out. While "Wait 'til your father gets home" may have been muttered a few times, Sallie was an encouraging mother. Though she worried about her boys, she never complained and laughed a lot.

Once Jason went to school full time, Sallie worked full time and was a busy working mom. She saved money for her boys' Christian education and braces and continued to keep the house fashionably decorated and modern. Sallie had Wednesdays off and always baked chicken for dinner. Saturday nights, there was Little Caesars Pizza, baths, and watching The Muppet Show. During the summer, when the boys had babysitters, they created many adventures for themselves, including riding their bikes to Gracewil to play golf, going to the ice cream and pizza shops, and exploring Richmond Park.

The Brinks started camping with the Kozaks and Arsulowiczs as a young family. In time, the tight group of friends added a few more families until over 60 people shared the tradition. The group settled in for 15 nights at Ludington State Park for the last week of July and the first week of August. Grand Haven and Pentwater were a few of their other favorite places to camp, first in a travel trailer and later in a fifth wheel. The family also enjoyed memorable trips to Walt Disney World in Florida, Tennessee, and Mud Island. Later in life, Sallie and Dave enjoyed spending several months in Fort Myers, Florida.

As her family grew, Sallie delighted in welcoming her daughters-in-law and grandchildren into her life. She relished being a grandmother and loved having a craft or game to share with her grandkids. While her sons remember her eating creamed herring on a cracker every New Year's Eve, her grandchildren looked forward to the chocolate and gift cards she gave them every Christmas.

An active and long-time West Leonard Christian Reformed Church member, Sallie was happy to serve coffee after church and volunteer for funeral luncheons. Sallie was also an active volunteer at the Junior Molly Booth Guild, regularly donated blood, and was active in the Friends of Grand Haven State Park.

Sadly, Sallie was officially diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017, though she knew something was going on for a couple of years. With Dave's loving care, she was able to live the rest of her life in the comforts of their home.

An inspiration to all who were blessed to know her, Sallie's legacy of love and adventure will long live in the hearts of those she so dearly loved. In each moment we indulge in a beach read or anything chocolate, enjoy a burrito at the Beltline Bar or Little Mexico, hit the road with our favorite people, cheer on our loved one's endeavors, and confidently meet life's challenges with grace and humor, we celebrate the countless ways Sallie made the world a better place. In this way, we keep her spirit alive and inspiring others as she so inspired us.

SALLIE ANN BRINKS (Bell), age 77 of Marne, passed away on January 16, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents, Millard and Elsie Bell, and in-laws, Harold and Agnes Brinks. Sallie is survived by her husband of 57 years, Dave Brinks; children, Chris Brinks, Brent (Rachael) Brinks, and Jason (Jodi) Brinks; grandchildren, Audrey (Jacob) Carpenter, Claudia Brinks, Emily (Andrew) Haan, Alyssa Brinks, Tyler Brinks, Sarah Brinks, Jack Brinks, and Kate Brinks. Also surviving are her sister, Mary Bell; brother-in-law, Bob (Ginger) Brinks; and 2 nephews and a niece. The funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, January 22, 2024, at West Leonard Christian Reformed Church, 1053 Leonard St. NW. The family will receive family and friends from 2-4 and 6-8 PM on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt and Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, and for one hour prior to the service at church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Van Andel Research Institute to benefit Parkinson's research. Please visit www.heritagelifestory.com to read Sallie's life story, submit a favorite memory or photo, or sign the guestbook online.