Jarvis L. Brewer, 86, of Rogersville died Saturday, April 30, 2016 at ECM Hospital.
Visitation will be today, May 4, 2016 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rogersville United Methodist Church. Funeral service will follow at the church with Robert Lancaster officiating. Burial will be in Nance-McLemore Cemetery. Pallbearers are represented by family and friends.
Jarvis was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Jessie Brewer and his brother, Dr. Robert N. Brewer. He is survived by his wife, Mary Williams Brewer; children, Susan Brewer (Kevin) McGraw and Michael (Mary Frances) Brewer; grandchildren, Michael Andrew (Jillian) McGraw, Rebecca (Will) Gerig, Carson Brewer, Parker Brewer and Graham Brewer.
Jarvis grew up in Phil Campbell and attended Florence State Teachers College (UNA). While at Florence State, he met and married Mary Louise Williams in 1951, and they enjoyed a wonderful life together for almost 65 years. Following graduation in 1952, Jarvis was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War in the Military Police Corps. After the war, Jarvis worked as a teacher and football coach at Lauderdale County High School in Rogersville before pursuing a career in Federal law enforcement. In 1954, Jarvis joined the Treasury Department’s newly formed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) as a special agent and investigator, rising to the position of Assistant Director. During his career, he was occasionally called on to assist the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Sky Marshall Program, and he worked at the White House as a member of President Carter’s Presidential Reorganization Project.
After his retirement from government service in 1980, Jarvis and Mary returned to Rogersville and became active members of the Rogersville United Methodist Church where Jarvis served in a number of official capacities, including church Lay Leader, Northwest Alabama District Lay Leader, representative to both Annual and General Conferences, and was a Board member for the Methodist Children’s Home in Selma.
As an active member of the Rogersville and Shoals communitiues, Jarvis was committed to helping bring jobs and a better life to the Shoals area. He helped organize the Optimist Club in Rogersville and served as its first President. Jarvis served as a member of the Shoals Economic Development Authority (SEDA), helped form the Rogersville Business Park, and was involved in the development of the Rogersville Shopping Center.
Whenever possible, Jarvis enjoyed traveling with his wife and family, spending time with his many friends, children and grandchildren, fishing, hunting, and telling stories. Jarvis had many titles of distinction during his life, but his proudest title was “Granddaddy.” He lived a life of service, was loved by all who knew him, and made a positive difference in the lives of many. Jarvis will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Rogersville United Methodist Church Building Fund at 51 Turner Lindsey Road, Rogersville, AL 35652 or The Rogersville Fire Department at 104 Wheeler Street, Rogersville, AL 35652.
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