Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Obituaries

Kerry Kier

Los Gatos resident Kerry Richard Kier died Nov. 21 at the age of 47.

Born Nov. 7, 1950, in Washington, Kier lived in Hawaii before settling in California. A music broker, musician and composer, his forte was country & western music. He also performed blues and Top 40.

Kier played with or opened for many well-known performers, including Hank Williams Jr., Mickey Gilley, Mel Tillis, Elvin Bishop, Johnnie Lee, Frizzel and West and Little Anthony & the Imperials. He was known to many as "Dollar Dog."

He used to appear at a West Coast music hot spot called the Lonesome Cowboy and was once in-house guitarist for KCRA-TV in Sacramento. Kier also did several tours through Hawaii and the South Pacific, performing music for U.S. soldiers as a contracted civilian entertainer.

Many years ago, Kier owned leather goods stores in San Francisco, the Pruneyard in Campbell and in Los Gatos' Old Town. Although an accident eight years ago left him blind, Kier was an avid skydiver. He was also a member of the American Federation of Musicians, Union Local #153.

Survivors include friend Sue Gilmour of Los Gatos and father Dale Kier of Los Gatos. A memorial service will take place after the first of the year.

Virginia Brooke

Virginia "Jane" Brooke, a Los Gatos resident for more than 20 years, died Nov. 20 of a heart attack at the age of 74.

Brooke was born July 20, 1923, in Kokomo, Ind. She worked for 25 years as a typesetter for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Survivors include children Janell Schulz of Chandler, Ariz., David Schulz of Aptos and Guy Brooke of Troutdale, Ore.; grandchildren Jennifer Damner-Schulz and David and Michael Brooke; and mother Frances of San Jose.

Memorial services have been held.

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