"Yes." –  Michael (Mike) Joseph Brewer made every dessert decision simple: Why choose one when a simple "yes" delivered both? Born in Spokane, WA, Oct. 5, 1927, to Murl Thomas Brewer and Clementine Deloris (Foley) Brewer, Mike grew up milking cows and mowing hay during his high school summers and proudly maintained those strong hands throughout his life. He had a mischievous streak that kept his folks on their toes and ultimately drove his mother to sign his enlistment papers eight months before he turned 18.

Time spent in the U.S. Coast Guard as a Radioman 3 ^rd Class during WWII, would change the course of Mike's life. He marched in the V-Day parade in Atlantic City, NJ and ultimately returned to Spokane where he put his telegraphy skills to work on the Great Northern Railway. He completed his GED and proceeded to graduate with honors from Gonzaga University where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1952.

In March of 1951, Mike invited Marjorie Francis Jaspers to ride the train to Spokane from Rathdrum, ID and join him for the Novena of Grace at St Aloysius Church. After that first date, the distance evaporated between Spokane and Rathdrum and they were married Aug. 4, 1951 in Lewiston, ID. Throughout the years, the two walked the Great Wall of China, kissed the Blarney Stone and traveled far to the north to Tuktoyaktuk, Canada. This month marked 70 years since Mike officially proposed.

Mike worked for Sears and went on to manage Kaiser Mead Federal Credit Union and Inland Power and Light Credit Union. On their dining room table, he and Marj founded the Spokane Catholic Credit Union. After spending 3 weeks with the villagers of Nahuala, Mike and Marj were instrumental in assisting the development of the Spokane Diocesan mission in Guatemala. Mike completed his career as a registered stock and bond advisor and would maintain that certification until 2003.

Mike and Marj raised six children (Kathleen Pozos, Timothy Brewer, Thomas Brewer, Terrence Brewer, Eileen Perkins and Tobia Brewer) and all of them also graduated from Gonzaga. He spent more than 20 years volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America, enjoyed hunting, fishing, and keeping bees. He served as a ham radio volunteer for 16 Bloomsday Runs.

A proud Hillyard resident and civic leader, Mike served on the Spokane City Planning Commission from 1978-89. He was instrumental in expanding the Spokane Transit Authority and was a key member of the planning team that initiated the North Spokane Corridor. He served on the Spokane City Council from 1990-97 and sat on multiple committees, including the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority and Spokane County Health District. Mike was a member of the Spokane Quality of Life Council, Citizens Advisory Committee, the first Gonzaga Alumni Board, and the Spokane Lion's Club.

Mike is survived by his wife, Marjorie, his brother, John Brewer, his children, nineteen grandchildren and all of their spouses, fourteen great-grandchildren, and a black lab he called "Buddy". He passed peacefully in his home on Thursday, May 20, surrounded by family and met by the angels. Mike will be fondly remembered for his unwavering punctuality, boyish grin, the wiggle of his ears and his eternally gentle soul.  Due to current pandemic conditions, services will be limited to family. Friends and community members are invited to visit Mike at Holy Cross Cemetery in the weeks to come.