Col. Melvin Lee Brewer's Obituary
COL. MELVIN LEE BREWER, U.S. Army (ret.), died Sunday morning at his home in McKinney of complications from cancer. He was 64. Born in Portland, Oregon, to Susie and Roy Lee Brewer, Col. Brewer was raised by foster parents Ruby and Carl Osburn. A graduate of St. Martin’s University, Col. Brewer joined the Army in 1966. After basic training, he took up active duty in Vietnam as a member of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles. He was awarded a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars for heroism in ground combat. The first was awarded for extraordinary action under fire when the convoy he commanded was attacked at Hai Van Pass on the border of Da Nang province. A year later, he was awarded a second Bronze Star with an Oak Leaf Cluster, again for heroism in ground combat. In 1968, he graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was also a graduate of the U.S. Army War College. An Army Ranger, he remained on active duty until 1979 when he joined the United States Army Reserve (USAR). As a reserve officer, he was division chief of staff and commander of the 75th Division’s 2D Brigade in Houston. When he retired from the Army Reserve in 1998, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. In civilian life, Col. Brewer worked for defense contractor Northrop Grumman on night vision optical equipment. He was also employed for many years at Texas Instruments where he received three U.S. Patents for his work protecting semiconductors from thermal shock. Col. Brewer was a private pilot and an enthusiastic member of the Texins Flying Club who continued to fly throughout much of his battle with cancer. He was also an avid salmon fisherman. Col. Brewer is survived by his wife, Katherine Peppard Brewer; two sons Christopher Lee Brewer and Erik Lee Brewer and his wife, Ashlie; and grandchildren Haven Lanece Brewer and Brooks Lee Brewer; as well as siblings Carolyn Hammond, Patricia Hart and her husband, Rick Hart, James Brewer and Joyce Brewer, and many loving nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at Restland Funeral Home. Memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 1st United Methodist Church, 315 N. Church Street, McKinney, TX 75069.
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