Joan Lenabell Brewer

Joan Lenabell Brewer died Sunday morning June 26, 2011 at Houston Hospice, in Houston, Texas. She was 86 years old.

Joan was born and raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Before she married, Joan worked as a secretary and a teacher. She obtained her college degree and teaching certificate at Simpson College in Indianola, IA. While at Simpson, she met and later married Kenny Brewer from Chariton, IA, following his WWII service in the US. Army Air Corps. Joan and Kenny lived in New York City and St. Louis, before settling in Council Bluffs for 13 years. In 1966, they moved to Kingsport with their two sons, John Dean J.D. Brewer and Maury Alan Brewer.

The Brewer's were long-time members of the First Presbyterian Church of Kingsport. During their first several years in Kingsport, Joan raised their two sons while maintaining the home. After both sons left home to attend college, Joan became quite active for many years in P.E.O., an organization to educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship of Cottey College; to motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations and to celebrate their advancement. Joan helped to found the Kingsport P.E.O. Chapter, and subsequently served for seven years in the Tennessee state-level offices of P.E.O., culminating as the Tennessee state P.E.O. President.

Joan was preceded in death by her beloved Kenny, who died in 2002 in Kingsport. Joan's survivors include her two married children, J.D. and Karen Brewer of Tomball, TX, and Maury Alan and Betsy Brewer of Houston, TX; her sister, Jacqueline Salyer of Kingsport, TN; three grandchildren, Todd Brewer of Houston, TX, Ken Brewer of Houston, TX, and Kevin Brewer, of Tomball, TX; and one great-grandchild. Joan's niece and nephews also survive her; Jennifer Pairgin of Kingsport, TN, Jeff Salyer of Kingsport, TN, and Jerome Salyer, of Louisville, KY.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 16, at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

A memorial service for Joan will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 16 at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. David A. Cagle officiating.

Visitation will be held at the church following the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Philanthropic Educational Organization www.peointernational.org, Des Moines, Iowa or to the Elkins Pancreas Center at the Baylor Clinics in Houston, TX.