Alice Gabriel Brewer was born on June 29, 1948 in Tyler. She died on July 13, 2003 after a valiant struggle with a terrible disease.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bruce Gabriel, Sr. and Verna Gabriel, and also by a brother, Bruce Gabriel, Jr., and a sister, Doris Curry.
She is survived by her husband, Jack Brewer, and by her children:
Boston Brown of Houston;
Beau Brown of Dallas, and his wife, Allison;
Michael Brewer of Dallas; and
Jennifer Brewer of Dallas.
She is also survived by a sister, Gail Wickstrom of New Mexico, and her husband, Gerald, and a brother, Don Gabriel of Tyler, and his wife, Karen, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Let me say a few words about my friend, Alice Brewer. For such a calm, and level-headed person, Alice was passionate about many things in her life.
She was passionate about her relationship to God. She was a long time member of Green Acres Baptist Church and a Sunday school teacher. She consistently reflected the presence of Jesus Christ in her character and her personality.
Perhaps the best illustration of her deep relationship with God is the way that she reacted to her terrible illness. According to everyone I have talked to, Alice never once asked, “Why me?” She never complained. She chose not to seek out unproven and exotic remedies for her illness. She simply trusted that God’s hand was on her life and accepted His will. Alice had a wonderful relationship with her God.
Alice was also passionate about her husband, Jack. They were the classic example of opposites attracting. Alice’s calm and steady nature was the perfect antidote for Jack’s high-energy, type A personality. They were the perfect compliment for each other. Jack called her his soul mate and God gave them just over twenty wonderful years together.
Alice was also passionate about her children. Just months after their marriage, Jack’s children came to live with them for a period of time. So on New Year’s Day, Alice had a two year old, a three year old, a four year old, and a five year old to take care of. The next day, Jack left on a business trip. But instead of wilting under this responsibility, she thrived. She loved Jack’s children along with her own. She was deeply involved in her children’s activities and became a friend to her children as well as their mother.
Alice was also passionate about the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated in 1969 with a degree in Speech and English and a teaching certificate. She taught for a number of years before beginning her career with State Farm. She was constantly involved in the Texas Exes Association and an enthusiastic fan and supporter of UT athletics. She was so excited about one of the last pieces of jewelry she bought because it was a ring with a burnt orange stone. The last time that I saw her, the first thing she wrote on her tablet was, “Did you watch UT win last night on TV?”
Alice was also passionate about helping others. She was a member of many charitable and civic organizations. For instance, she was a member the Ambassadors of the University of Texas at Tyler which raises funds for scholarships. She was a former president of the Robert E. Lee Booster Club, and a member of the Tyler Area Life Underwriters, whose Special Wish program for terminally ill children was a favorite cause of hers.
Alice was not a musician, but she was passionate about music. A friend from junior high school recalled for me how ecstatic Alice was after seeing her first Dallas Summer Musical. Whenever she and Jack traveled, often with friends, she had a knack for seeking out places to hear jazz and a talent for convincing her friends to go along.
Alice was a true beauty. She was voted the most beautiful girl by her classmates in high school. She was athletic and a cheerleader in both jr. high and high school.
But what we will remember most about Alice is her character. No one who knew her ever remembers her saying an unkind thing about anyone. She was an instant friend to everyone she met.
One experience that Jack had illustrates the kind of person Alice was. He once pulled into a drive-in bank and the teller asked if he were Alice Brewer’s husband. The teller said, “She’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met.” Even through bullet proof glass people could discern her sweet spirit.
As we get older, we may grow as a person and we certainly become more adept at hiding our flaws from others. If you really want to know what a person is like, down deep, talk to their friends from junior high and high school.
I’ve received email messages from classmates of mine and Alice. This message from someone who knew her in junior high school tells you what the guys thought about Alice:
“On Saturday nights, in deciding whether many of us wanted to go to the Teen Time dances at the YMCA, one of the main questions was always, was Alice Gabriel of Moore Junior High going to be there? Everybody loved her.”
And this from a high school acquaintance tells you what the girls thought about Alice:
“We were not close friends in high school, just acquaintances who said ‘hi.’ Even though she was the beauty, the cheerleader, and the popular girl, I always thought of her also as a genuinely nice person. This was confirmed at our 25th reunion. I was feeling shy and a little nervous about going in. However, as soon as I walked in the door, Alice greeted me with a friendly, warm hello and a hug. Wow! Alice Gabriel remembered me! Alice’s welcome was a real gift to an old classmate, and I have always remembered and appreciated her genuine kindness.”
Genuine kindness—what a rare thing to find in people today. Yet, it typified the character of Alice Gabriel Brewer.
Goodbye, sweet Alice. You are at home now, surrounded by a cloud of angels, and it is only we who feel sad, and lonely. We will go on rooting for the ‘Horns, but it won’t be the same without you. We are far, far richer for having known you. We are much, much poorer for having lost you so soon.
Both Keith and Craige said it best Dear Alice. Thanks for living a wonderful life looking to Jesus the author and perfected of our Faith.
Soooo glad to know we will see you again, perfected with a glorified Body , with no pain and serving the Lord of Glory whom you love so much. See you when its our time.
Keith DeShazo
Remember when, I know you sit at God's right hand, you are dearly missed.
Craig Daugherty
Here is the eulogy I gave at Alice's funeral:
EULOGY FOR ALICE BREWER
Alice Gabriel Brewer was born on June 29, 1948 in Tyler. She died on July 13, 2003 after a valiant struggle with a terrible disease.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bruce Gabriel, Sr. and Verna Gabriel, and also by a brother, Bruce Gabriel, Jr., and a sister, Doris Curry.
She is survived by her husband, Jack Brewer, and by her children:
Boston Brown of Houston;
Beau Brown of Dallas, and his wife, Allison;
Michael Brewer of Dallas; and
Jennifer Brewer of Dallas.
She is also survived by a sister, Gail Wickstrom of New Mexico, and her husband, Gerald, and a brother, Don Gabriel of Tyler, and his wife, Karen, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Let me say a few words about my friend, Alice Brewer. For such a calm, and level-headed person, Alice was passionate about many things in her life.
She was passionate about her relationship to God. She was a long time member of Green Acres Baptist Church and a Sunday school teacher. She consistently reflected the presence of Jesus Christ in her character and her personality.
Perhaps the best illustration of her deep relationship with God is the way that she reacted to her terrible illness. According to everyone I have talked to, Alice never once asked, “Why me?” She never complained. She chose not to seek out unproven and exotic remedies for her illness. She simply trusted that God’s hand was on her life and accepted His will. Alice had a wonderful relationship with her God.
Alice was also passionate about her husband, Jack. They were the classic example of opposites attracting. Alice’s calm and steady nature was the perfect antidote for Jack’s high-energy, type A personality. They were the perfect compliment for each other. Jack called her his soul mate and God gave them just over twenty wonderful years together.
Alice was also passionate about her children. Just months after their marriage, Jack’s children came to live with them for a period of time. So on New Year’s Day, Alice had a two year old, a three year old, a four year old, and a five year old to take care of. The next day, Jack left on a business trip. But instead of wilting under this responsibility, she thrived. She loved Jack’s children along with her own. She was deeply involved in her children’s activities and became a friend to her children as well as their mother.
Alice was also passionate about the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated in 1969 with a degree in Speech and English and a teaching certificate. She taught for a number of years before beginning her career with State Farm. She was constantly involved in the Texas Exes Association and an enthusiastic fan and supporter of UT athletics. She was so excited about one of the last pieces of jewelry she bought because it was a ring with a burnt orange stone. The last time that I saw her, the first thing she wrote on her tablet was, “Did you watch UT win last night on TV?”
Alice was also passionate about helping others. She was a member of many charitable and civic organizations. For instance, she was a member the Ambassadors of the University of Texas at Tyler which raises funds for scholarships. She was a former president of the Robert E. Lee Booster Club, and a member of the Tyler Area Life Underwriters, whose Special Wish program for terminally ill children was a favorite cause of hers.
Alice was not a musician, but she was passionate about music. A friend from junior high school recalled for me how ecstatic Alice was after seeing her first Dallas Summer Musical. Whenever she and Jack traveled, often with friends, she had a knack for seeking out places to hear jazz and a talent for convincing her friends to go along.
Alice was a true beauty. She was voted the most beautiful girl by her classmates in high school. She was athletic and a cheerleader in both jr. high and high school.
But what we will remember most about Alice is her character. No one who knew her ever remembers her saying an unkind thing about anyone. She was an instant friend to everyone she met.
One experience that Jack had illustrates the kind of person Alice was. He once pulled into a drive-in bank and the teller asked if he were Alice Brewer’s husband. The teller said, “She’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met.” Even through bullet proof glass people could discern her sweet spirit.
As we get older, we may grow as a person and we certainly become more adept at hiding our flaws from others. If you really want to know what a person is like, down deep, talk to their friends from junior high and high school.
I’ve received email messages from classmates of mine and Alice. This message from someone who knew her in junior high school tells you what the guys thought about Alice:
“On Saturday nights, in deciding whether many of us wanted to go to the Teen Time dances at the YMCA, one of the main questions was always, was Alice Gabriel of Moore Junior High going to be there? Everybody loved her.”
And this from a high school acquaintance tells you what the girls thought about Alice:
“We were not close friends in high school, just acquaintances who said ‘hi.’ Even though she was the beauty, the cheerleader, and the popular girl, I always thought of her also as a genuinely nice person. This was confirmed at our 25th reunion. I was feeling shy and a little nervous about going in. However, as soon as I walked in the door, Alice greeted me with a friendly, warm hello and a hug. Wow! Alice Gabriel remembered me! Alice’s welcome was a real gift to an old classmate, and I have always remembered and appreciated her genuine kindness.”
Genuine kindness—what a rare thing to find in people today. Yet, it typified the character of Alice Gabriel Brewer.
Goodbye, sweet Alice. You are at home now, surrounded by a cloud of angels, and it is only we who feel sad, and lonely. We will go on rooting for the ‘Horns, but it won’t be the same without you. We are far, far richer for having known you. We are much, much poorer for having lost you so soon.
Larry Hollingsworth
Both Keith and Craige said it best Dear Alice. Thanks for living a wonderful life looking to Jesus the author and perfected of our Faith.
Soooo glad to know we will see you again, perfected with a glorified Body , with no pain and serving the Lord of Glory whom you love so much. See you when its our time.
Larry Hollingsworth