Deborah Brewer

Deborah Sue “Debbie” Brewer, 80, of Cape Girardeau departed this Earth to be with our Lord on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau.

Debbie was born Feb. 22, 1944, in Rock Island, Illinois, to Dru Alder and Mildred Brashears Tighe.

She graduated high school in Aledo, Illinois, and then attended Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, where she was one of the original Saluki batgirls and earned a bachelor’s degree. She later would go back to earn a master’s degree in social work.

Debbie was an exemplary classroom teacher who taught high school civics, history and economics in Illinois and Wisconsin prior to embarking on a long career as a social worker. She was first a mental health caseworker and a social worker in Harrisburg, Illinois, before becoming a caseworker for Department of Children and Family Services in Metropolis and Anna, Illinois, and eventually worked herself up to a supervisory position until her retirement. She then was a social worker at Mercy Hospital Southeast in Cape Girardeau until November 2023.

Debbie was a dedicated member of Christ Episcopal Church of Cape Girardeau. She was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Blues fan and a caring pet owner who loved reading, antiquing and doing all sorts of volunteer work.

She was soft-spoken, intelligent, hardworking and loyal to friends and colleagues. There was no one who loved her family more. She positively impacted so many lives that no one will ever replace her.

She is survived by her daughter, Andrea (Annie) Lynne Greer, and grandchildren, Hannah Claire and Donovan Alexander Shovan, all of Cape Girardeau; sister, Sharon (Don) Feldhake; close friend and cousin, Amy (Jerry) Jablonski of Crown Point, Indiana; first husband, Edwin Blaine Greer, and his family; second husband, Jim Brewer, and his family; numerous cousins; and beloved nephew, Adam Greer.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Dru Alder and Mildred Brashears Tighe, and infant daughter, Dru Katherine Greer.

The cremation of Deborah Sue Brewer has been personally handled by the staff of Crain Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

A celebration of life memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at Christ Episcopal Church in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Christ Episcopal Church or Crain Funeral Home to assist the family with cremation expenses. Envelopes will be available at the church.