MIRIAM McCOOK BREWER

Wasilla resident Miriam McCook Brewer, 72, passed away Aug. 15, 2004, at 1:25 a.m. at Valley Hospital's Assisted Living Center.

Mrs. Brewer was born March 9, 1932, in Macon, Ga., one of only two babies born in the Macon hospital that month. She was the youngest of three children. Her mother was an accomplished violinist and teacher and started her on the violin at age 5. However, Mrs. Brewer's real desire was to learn the piano, and so to emphasize her point, she sat on her violin, ending the violin lessons and thus beginning her love of the piano.

In 1949, Mrs. Brewer graduated from A.L. Miller girls' high school in Macon and went on to attend both the University of Georgia and Mercer University, where she graduated in 1953 with a bachelor's degree, majoring in psychology with a minor in business administration.

On March 15, 1953, she married Nick J. Brewer Jr. Shortly after they were married, they moved to Nashville, Tenn., where Mr. Brewer attended Vanderbilt Divinity School. In 1956, they had their first child, Nicholas. After Mr. Brewer graduated from Vanderbilt, he joined the U.S. Navy as a chaplain. During his service, the Brewers went to live in Spain while Mr. Brewer was serving there.

After leaving the Navy, the family moved to Park Forest, Ill., where in 1960, they had another child, Katharine. In 1962, their twins were born, Daniel and James.

In 1966, the Brewer family moved to Alaska after Mr. Brewer accepted the pastorship of the Wasilla Presbyterian Church. The whole family bundled up in a Volkswagen camper and set off for Alaska in January to drive the Alaska Highway. After a three-week journey full of excitement, adventure, and occasional terror, the family arrived in Wasilla.

As pastor's wife, Mrs. Brewer was very active in all church activities and very involved in the community as well. She loved animals, and was always taking care of any strays that wandered into the yard, feeding them and finding loving homes for them.

In the early 1970s, Mrs. Brewer worked for William Tull as a part-time legal secretary.

In 1974, the family moved from Wasilla to Lebanon, Ore., and in 1976, realizing how much they missed living in Alaska, moved back to Wasilla.

After returning to Wasilla, Mrs. Brewer took a job with RuralCAP (Rural Community Action Program) in Anchorage, where she worked as a secretary and executive assistant until her retirement in 1995.

In 2001, Mrs. Brewer was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Even with Alzheimer's, she always had a bright, cheerful outlook on life and would not let it dampen her spirit.

Mrs. Brewer enjoyed many things in life, but her favorites were her family, pets, the piano, gardening, reading and playing games such as Scrabble. She loved the "Sound of Music" and even when her condition made it difficult for her to communicate, she would still sing along with the songs in the movie.

Mrs. Brewer is survived by her husband, Nick J. Brewer Jr.; older sister, Katharine Bacon; children, Nicholas J. Brewer III, Katharine J. Brewer, Daniel M. Brewer and James B. Brewer; son-in-law, Loras O'Toole; daughter-in-law, Margaret Kiely; grandchildren, Leonna Brewer, Steven Brewer and Jasmine O'Toole-Brewer and her beloved house cat.

The ceremonies will take place Friday, at the First Presbyterian Church in Wasilla, the viewing will be from 1 p.m. with the service beginning at 3 p.m. and a graveside service immediately afterward.

Contributions in her memory may be made either to the Wasilla Presbyterian Church, (907) 376-5053, or the Alzheimer's Association of Alaska, (907) 746-3432 or (800) 478-1080 #2.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.