Obituary of Eugene Brewer

A Celebration of Eugene “Gene” Brewer’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, January 4th at First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs with Rev. Pete Adrian and Rev. Debbie Riggsby officiating. There will be no formal visitation. Gene passed away Friday, December 28, 2012 at Carriage House Manor. Honorary pallbearers are Bob Cody, Bill Dietz MD, Bill Hager, Ken Hanushek, Charles Jones MD, James Longino, MD, Jerold Moore, David Rabun and Jones Roberts. Gene was born on December 13, 1923 in Kansas City, MO, the son of Harry and Virginia Brewer. He married Elizabeth Susan Hanbury in Dallas on September 20, 1974. She survives. Gene moved to Dallas when he was three months old, and due to his mother’s illness was raised by his loving foster parents Alan and Annie Gibson. He graduated from Sunset High School in 1942. He entered the U. S. Army Air Corps where he was assigned to the 34th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron in the 9th Tactical Air Force. He was stationed in England; he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was in Paris on D-Day. Gene was deeply patriotic. He loved his country and believed in the cause for which he fought during WWII. As was the case of many of “the Great Generation” it was years before he was able to speak about his experiences. He was discharged from the Air Force in November 1945 and entered the Department of Public Safety on January 2, 1947. In the interim he worked for the Educational Equipment Company making projectors for schools. When discharged from the Air Force he signed up for Inactive Reserve Duty and in 1950 was drafted back in the Air force for a year during the Korean War. He was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base assigned to the 8th Air Force Police Squadron. In the DPS, he was assigned to San Antonio where patrol duty was carried out on Indian Harley motorcycles. The standard uniform then, even in summer, was made of wool! At the time I-90 ran through the center of San Antonio. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1957 and to Lieutenant in 1966. He was on duty the day President Kennedy was assassinated. In September 1972 he joined the newly formed Governor’s Office of Traffic Safety. He retired from this position in 1980. Gene was a “people” person. People were his hobby. After living on a small ranch raising a few cattle – a long held dream – he and Susan moved to Sulphur Springs where he was blessed with many friends and acquaintances. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs. He was a member of the Bishop Ward Class and then the Messenger’s Class. In addition to his wife he is survived by his beloved daughters, Janet Lee Hallum and husband Jack, Sherry Lynn Hawkins and husband Jim, three grandsons, Rob, Russ and wife Jessica and Adrian, four great-grandchildren, Cody, Josiah, Elijah and Michael, brother-in-laws, Julian and James Hanbury, sister-in-law, Patricia Lambert. He was preceded in death by brothers, Wallace and sisters, Frances, Ruth, Alma and Barbara, two great grandchildren, Lance and Areona. In lieu of flowers Gene would have requested memorials to First United Methodist Church, 301 Church Street, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75482, Cal Farleys’ Ranch for Boys and Girls, P. O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX, or Legacy Hospice, 301 Gilmer, Suite A, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75482. Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home. www.westoaksfuneralhome.com