Myrtle (“Myrt”) Martha (Minneman) Brothers, educator, musician, lover of people and of the outdoors, died in Davis, California on April 23 at the age of 83.
Myrt was born August 8, 1929, in Dayton, Ohio, where she was raised. She attended Ball State Teacher’s College (now Ball State University) in Muncie, Indiana, where she met John Brothers, whom she married on June 11, 1949. Upon completing their education at Ball State, Myrt and John migrated west, living for two years in Alto, Texas before settling in Calipatria, California in1953. In Calipatria Myrt gave birth to the last of four sons and began her long career as a teacher.
In the summer of 1958 the family moved to Fillmore, California, settling in a home on the corner of Chambersburg Road (Highway 23) and Riverside Avenue, in Bardsdale. Soon after arriving in Bardsdale, Myrt became a member of the Bardsdale United Methodist Church, where both she and John remained deeply committed throughout their time in Fillmore. She also became a member of the Fillmore Chapter GY of the PEO, in which she served for many years.
Within a short time of her arrival in Fillmore, Myrt began teaching kindergarten at Sespe Elementary School, a position she held for 29 years. In this capacity, she influenced a host of children. Myrt was a dynamic educator: energetic, creative, and always open to innovation. Her students remember her as an energetic, enthusiastic, graceful, and loving presence in the classroom. Particularly sensitive to the needs of Fillmore’s large Hispanic community, she learned Spanish in order to communicate affectively with her Spanish-speaking students and their parents.
Myrt was an excellent musician and pianist; she accompanied Fillmore singer Angela Young in numerous concerts and performed many duo piano recitals with John. She also sang in a female a cappella trio and was involved as a singer and pianist in the music program at her church. In retirement from teaching, she sang with John in the Ventura Master Chorale.
Myrt enjoyed physical activity and the outdoors. She loved the Sierras of California, where she camped and backpacked many summers with John and her sons. She also enjoyed day sailing in the Ventura Harbor. Myrt thrived on physical exercise and for several years rode her bike before sunup to her work. She liked to travel and enjoyed trips within the U.S. and to Europe, Latin America, and New Zealand with John.
Myrt was a giving person. She enjoyed opening her home to others and making them feel welcome; her well-attended Thanksgiving dinners were legendary. She delighted in delivering baked treats to coworkers and friends at Christmastime. She loved her family and enjoyed nothing more than having her home full of sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and friends.
Myrt was beloved by many and will be fondly remembered for her vivacious personality, her boundless energy, and her generous hospitality. She is survived by her husband John, her sister Millie, and her four sons and their families, including nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for June 22 at 4:00 p.m. at Dixon United Methodist Church, 209 North Jefferson Street, Dixon, California. John Brothers may be contacted at 1111 Alvarado Ave. #238, Davis, CA 95616. Gifts in Myrt’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.