Gary Brewer

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Gary Lee Brewer, 75, of Marble Hill died Saturday, June 22, 2019, at his home.

Gary Brewer

Born on Aug. 7, 1943, in New Windsor, Illinois, he was the son of Laurence and Marian Robbins Brewer.

He grew up on the family dairy farm in Viola, Illinois. After graduating from Illinois State University, he taught Latin and German at Palatine (Illinois) High School for one year.

Gary enlisted in the Army in 1967. After Officer Candidate School, he did tours in Vietnam and Berlin. Later overseas tours included Korea and Panama. He was Special Forces and Airborne qualified, attended Army Command and General Staff College and National War College, served on Army, Southern Command and Missile and Space Command Intelligence staffs and commanded the 319th Military Intelligence Battalion, 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

In 1979, Maj. Brewer married fellow intel officer (also Maj.) Sue Gabriel. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary earlier this month. Colonel Brewer retired from active duty in November 1995, after 28 years of dedicated service.

He has spent the last 24 years on his farm in Bollinger County, dedicated to improving his land, forest and beef cattle. Deeply committed to community and service to others, he was a frequent board member on University of Missouri Extension Board, president of the Co-op Board, sponsor of a Boy Scout troop, and passionate member and secretary/treasurer of the Marble Hill Optimists in their work for youth in scholastic and sports programs. First and last, he was a Christian who lived and shared his faith as a member, trustee, adult Sunday school teacher and men's group leader at Marble Hill United Methodist Church.

He passed peacefully at home following a two-year battle with multiple myloma.

He is survived by his wife, Sue; mother, Marian Brewer; brother, Jim; sister, Audrey; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father and brother, Ed.

Visitation and funeral services will be Wednesday at Marble Hill United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until service time. The funeral service, with military honors, will be at 7 p.m., with the Rev. Janet Hopkins officiating. Burial, with military honors, will be at 3 p.m. Thursday in Viola Cemetery in Viola.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gideon International or Marble Hill Optimist Club.

Hutchings Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.