Grady Brewster

Marietta Monitor

August 31, 2001

Submitted by: Martha N. Reddout

Services for Grady Brewster, 85, of Marietta, will be held at 2 p.m., today (Friday), August 31, at the First Baptist Church in Marietta, with the Rev. Tommy Higle officiating.

Mr. Brewster, son of Omar and Maude Brewster, was born in Marshall County in Kingston, September 21, 1915, at the home of his grandparents who had migrated to Indian Territory from Mississippi. He died Tuesday, August 28, 2001, in Mercy Health Love County in Marietta.

Being the son of an early day educator, he spent his first eight years at Archard School, located south of Madill, where his father was principal. Mr. Brewster attended Madill High School his first year in high school, commuting via horseback from Archard to Madill. His last three years of high school were spent at Dickson Consolidated School, where his father was superintendent. Mr. Brewster attended Murray State Junior College, where he commuted by school bus from Dickson to Tishomingo. He graduated from Southeastern State College with a bachelor of science degree in math and science. Mr. Brewster spent the next few summers at Oklahoma University and obtained a master's degree. In 1940, he married Rachel Mayo, his lifelong partner of 61 years. Their son, Billy Kent, was born in 1941.

Mr. Brewster lived his life with the same values and ideals that he coached his teams to State Championships in 1951 and 1952. Always instilling in his players the desire to attend to business, he made sure each was welll-fed and sufficiently clothed. Mr. Brewster's goals were more than mere hoops attached to a backboard. They were the values of honesty and hard work that could make a championship team out of untrained, but willing-to-learn young men. He could size up a group of players and look for strong points to build a winning team. Mr. Brewster's persistence and encouragement always brought out the very best performance in each player. They believed in themselves, because he believed in them. Mr. Brewster never received extra pay for his coaching duties. He just wanted his team to win ball games, but more importantly to him, he wanted them to possess the skills to be champions in the game of life. Mr. Brewster always found a means to obtain the gear needed to look the part of a team of winners. After his administrative duties squeezed out his time for coaching, he continued to seek out the best faculty members to be his team of teachers and principals.

In 1954 Mr. Brewster began with four registered Angus heifers to build his herd of prize cattle. He continued to enjoy the cattle for more than 40 years. Once again, he produced bulls and heifers, winning championships at major shows throughout the U.S. He and Bill also had a love for racing horses, and especially loved being in the "Winner's Circle."

In later years, his hobby of raising and selling birddog puppies resulted in several Field Trial Champions. Mr. Brewster loved to reminisce about his former students, ball players, cattle adventures with his friend, Burl Bone, winning horses and hunting experiences which he shared with his son, B.K., at the early age of three. Competition was always the game and winning was the ultimate challenge.

Mr. Brewster was a member of the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association, Love County Retired Teachers Association, Texas State Retired Teachers Association, Oklahoma Angus Association, American Angus Association, Jockey Club and the Oklahoma Horseman Association.

Mr. Brewster will be greatly missed by his family and friends who looked up to him as a living legend.

Survivors include his wife, Rachel Brewster of the home; a son and daughter-in- law, Bill and Suzie Brewster of Washington, D.C.; and a granddaughter, Karel Brewster of Oklahoma City.

Mr. Brewster was preceded in death by his parents, Omar and Maude Brewster; and grandchildren, Kecia and Kent Brewster on January 31, 1990.

Pallbearers are David Hobbs, Larry Hobbs, Mark Hobbs, John Sparks, Rick Bone and K.E. Pennington. Honorary pallbearers are Burl Bone and the 1951-52 Meadowbrook State Championship Basketball Team: J.C. Montgomery Jr., Louis Henderson, Leo Page, Harold White, Rogers Morgan, Rex White, the late Floyd Sharp and the late Keith Jacobs.

Interment in Lakeview Cemetery, Marietta, will be under the direction of Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home, Marietta.

The family has asked that memorials be made to the Brewster Scholarship Fund or the W.P. Rowland Fund, c/o Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home, 100 East Main, Marietta, OK 73448.