Donna Brewer Obituary

It is with immense sorrow and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and devoted wife, Donna Lucille Brewer. She passed away peacefully and comfortably on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the age of 86. Our mother was born on Valentine's Day in 1939 and was the oldest of two children born and raised in Jackson, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Charlotte Clay, and her sister, Carol. Schooling and education were always important to our mom. She was the valedictorian of her high school class at Jackson High School and went on to receive her undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan University and her master's degree from the University of Michigan. Our mom spent almost half a century teaching high school. She began her career in the Warren Consolidated School system before teaching in the Royal Oak school district. She is among the limited number of individuals who have taught at each of the three high schools within the Royal Oak System. She enjoyed teaching, heading the co-op program and running the School Store at Dondero High School. Most of all our mom loved helping high school students and inspiring them to pursue their goals with confidence. Donna married Richard and they enjoyed 57 years of marriage together before his passing in 2019. Donna and Richard have two sons, Charles (Rene) and Dennis (Melanie). Their love of the outdoors and summer weather in Michigan led us to vacation in Northern Michigan every summer and the purchasing of a cottage at Bear Lake, where our childhood summers were spent. Richard and Donna both loved to read and enjoyed the theater. Donna was proud to be the grandmother of four grandchildren Lauren, Caleb, Drew, and Preston. Our mom enjoyed having any reason to have our family together for dinner followed by conversations and many laughs. Our mom was a strong woman of great faith. She was a long-time member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Royal Oak. It was clear in the life of our mom that her faith was first followed by her family. She was an encourager to us all and taught us the importance of hard work and modeled unconditional love. The loss of our beloved mother leaves and emptiness that cannot be filled, but her legacy endures in the lives she touched and the lessons she taught. We will be gathering for a memorial service to celebrate her life at St. Paul Lutheran Church in the near future.