SUNSET BEACH — Donald Elmer “Pete” Brewer, 74, formerly of High Point, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2019, at his home. Pete was born to Elmer Tucker Brewer and Cleo Jones Brewer in Raleigh. He then lived in Holly Springs.
Pete attended Apex High School, where he was a standout football, baseball, track and basketball star, graduating in 1964. He later attended Wingate College and then graduated from Campbell University after completing his service in Vietnam. He served two years in the U.S. Army, stationed with the Green Berets Special Forces Unit, receiving top secret intelligence clearance in order to work in a classified vault.
He received a Bronze Star and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1969. Pete returned to Holly Springs, where he was a mason and a volunteer firefighter with the Holly Springs Fire Department.
In 1974, he married Susan Marshall Brewer of Winston-Salem, and together they had four sons, Matt, Jason, Edwin and David. In 1998, Pete married Barbara Morgan Lohr of Lexington.
Pete was a member of Wesley Memorial UMC in High Point. After retirement, he and Barbara moved to the Sandpiper Bay community in Sunset Beach, where they attended Seaside United Methodist Church. Together, they enjoyed golfing, community activities and “doing whatever we want, because we’re retired.”
Pete loved to bake — he was famous for his chocolate fudge pies, and later, all kinds of cakes. Any flavor you would request, he would make it. He was known colloquially around the community as the “cake man.” He also had a reputation around the community as the “Christmas balls man.” Each December, he would hang dozens of lighted Christmas balls in his trees, delighting the old and young alike.
His friends and family described him as happy, jovial and always willing to share a laugh and a smile with anyone he met. He was genuine, kind, loving and forever generous with his time and service to others. Pete’s personality was that of a true gentleman, and he never met a stranger.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by wife, Susan, and infant son, Jason.
Pete is survived by his wife, Barbara Brewer of Sunset Beach; sister, Pat Brewer Lawrence of Willow Springs; his three sons, Matthew Brewer (Jamie) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Edwin Brewer and David Brewer (Melynda), both of High Point; stepdaughters, Sydney Lohr Cummings (James) of Morehead City and Mary Berkley Lohr of Lexington; and grandchildren, Lucas Antinori, Rob Cummings, Adam Cummings, William Brewer, Jackson Brewer and Caroline Brewer, along with and another grandchild due in January.
Pete’s celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Sept. 16, at Seaside United Methodist Church, Sunset Beach. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.
Donations may be made to Polo in the Pines, 5174 McGinnis Ferry Road, #110, Alpharetta, GA 30005. Polo in the Pines is a non-profit organization that funds 100% of donations to pediatric brain cancer research and treatment.
Share online condolences with the family at Brunswick Funeral Service.
