Larry Jacob Brewer, Sr.

On the evening of July 27, 2024, the Brewer family said our final “see you soon” and “kiss Momma for us” for our most beloved daddy, our superhero. He was surrounded by family: his wife of four years, members of the extended Deculus family, his sisters and brothers-in law, and his five children who had not left his side since July 8, 2024, when the newly diagnosed cancer began to take hold of his body. Oh, how brokenhearted we are to lose him so suddenly and we grieve this larger-than-life daddy of ours, but OH, what a GLORIOUS day it must have been! We rejoice that he is now breathing freely and is finally pain free.

Larry Jacob Brewer, Sr. was born to Helen Louise (Smith) and L. J. (Burie, Jr) Brewer on May 3, 1942. The oldest of eight children, six sisters and a brother, he was born at home, in the family chicken coop, in Chickasaw, AL. 

Larry was known for his tremendous gift of faith, his humor and being quick to laugh, his fierce love and loyalty to family, being a hard worker and wonderful provider, being able to fix just about anything, and being quick to forgive in living out his belief that “everyone deserves a chance at positive change.”

Larry attended schools in Citronelle, even driving the bus around age 10-12, and later in Mobile County Public Schools. Growing up, the Brewer family were members of Culvert Street Baptist Church; there, he met his lifelong love and mother of his children, Barbara Ann (Kinsaul) Brewer. After a prom night proposal and a 1960 graduation from Vigor High School, Larry and Barbara were married on October 7, 1960. Together, they welcomed five children, grandchildren, and created a legacy of love, until her sudden death in 2018.

Following his dream of becoming a pharmacist, Larry began attending college at Samford; however, by 1961, with a baby on the way, he had enlisted in the US ARMY. He served at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX as a Medical Laboratory Specialist until 1964 but remained in the US ARMY RESERVES until 1967. From 1964-1970, Larry honed his love of science and the medical field, as well as providing for his growing family, by working at pharmacies, Mobile Infirmary, and chemical plants all while attending college. He was a 1970 graduate of Mobile College (The University of Mobile), earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.

Larry’s career interests landed him in the nuclear medical field, which also took their family to Dallas (Plano), TX, where he worked for Nuclear Medical Laboratories and Bio-Rad Laboratories. After several “failed attempts at retirement”, he continued to stay busy by taking contract positions in hospital laboratories. He even came out of retirement, again, to help with the hospital staff shortages of COVID. He was member of the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and held Clinical Laboratory Specialist (CLS) certifications in five states, until he fully retired at the age of 80 in 2022.

Larry was a loving big brother to his sisters, a devoted and dutiful son, an adoring husband to our momma, and the best daddy anyone could have hoped to have. Being a hands-on, ever present daddy to his Brewer 5 and a Pops to his grandchildren and great grandchildren was a favorite part of Larry’s life. He thrilled at attending their sporting events, pageants, dance recitals, grandparent’s day, Veteran’s events, etc. 

After the devastating loss of his lifelong love and best friend in 2018, Larry met and married Dianne Espree-Deculus. They married on June 27, 2020, during COVID, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lakeland, LA. His children prayed for him to meet a loving companion, since he had never lived alone… Dianne was that answer to prayer. After their 2020 wedding, Larry split his time between his family “farm” in Chunchula, AL and with Dianne in Mamou, LA, until making the move to join Dianne fulltime in Mamou, LA in 2023. Dianne, also a widow, was a wonderful travel companion and partner to his fun-loving lifestyle. She brought his smile back and the dance back to his step. Together, they shared a strong faith and love of Jesus, as well as a love of travel, live music, good Louisiana Cajun food, and football (albeit they were a “house divided” on Saturdays - LSU for her to his lifetime love of Alabama Football).

Larry entered the loving embrace of our most gracious and merciful Father, and loved ones who went before him on July 27, 2024. He is preceded in death by his lifelong love and mother of his children, Barbara Ann (Kinsaul)Brewer, his parents Helen Louise (Smith) Brewer and L. J. (Burie Jr.) Brewer, a brother, Judson Brewer, and one sister Barbara Lynn Brewer Davis, and his inlaws. Larry is survived by his 5 children: son- Larry Jacob, Jr (Jay) of Panama City Beach, FL (wife Clemi and children: Ashley Ann, Larry III, Joshua, Justin); daughter- Kathy Ann Brewer Harp of Mer Rouge, LA (husband Bill Harp and children: Nicholas and Hayley); daughter- Pamela Rae Brewer of Mobile/Fairhope (Partner Shawn Starnes and children: Claire Adams and Colton Adams), stepchildren Savanah Starnes Sessions and Shawn Luke Starnes); son- Michael Darrin of Hope Mills, NC (wife Amy and children: Ava and Olivia); son- Kenneth “Scott” of Diamondhead, MS (wife Brittany and children: Hayden, Harrison, and Hamilton). Larry is also survived, as Pops, by 9 great grandchildren: Jalen, Jordan, and Alani Lucas, Jordy, Jackson, and Jadon Johnson; Derek Brewer and Olivia Brewer; Estella James Sessions, who was born only 4 days before his passing. He is also survived by his five sisters: Beverly Judith Quinn (John Quinn), Betty B. Moehle (Dr. Steve Moehle), Bonnie B. Palmer, Blondie B. Pritchett (SGT First Class Leonard Pritchett), Billie Faye B. DeView (Ernie DeView); one brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, and a host of nieces and nephews. 

Larry is also survived by his wife of four years, Dianne Espree-Deculus Brewer of Mamou, LA, as well as her five children: Donna Deculus of Baton Rouge; Louis Deculus, Jr. (Ramona) of Slidell, LA; Jennifer Deculus of Houston; Jessica Deculus Cooper (Fredrick) of Houston; Deidre Deculus Robert (James Jr.) of Baton Rouge, LA; as well as her 15 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Larry readily embraced a blended family and loved them all well, in true Brewer fashion. Although they only had a short time together, Larry and Dianne shared much fun, many laughs, and created as many memories as possible.

A Celebration of Life honoring Larry Jacob "Jake" Brewer, Sr. will be at Ardoin's Funeral Home of Mamou on Saturday, August 17, 2024, beginning at 10:00 am until 12:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Larry’s name to your favorite charity. Some of Larry’s favorite organizations to support include: Wounded Warriors Project, PTSD Foundation, National Rifle Association, Lung Cancer research (Small Cell Lung Cancer-SCLC), and Kidz Outdoors or Take a Kid Fishing. We’d also like to include Our Lady of the Lake Hospital and The Butterfly Wing w/ Hospice of Baton Rouge, as they were fantastic and provided amazing care to our daddy, as well as all of us!

Our life was filled with love, special traditions and celebrations, our Momma’s goodies and pastries, silliness, laughter and practical jokes, as well as fierce family devotion; We were taught to believe on God, to trust His word, to love Jesus, and to forgive quickly. We’re just not ready for his story to be over, so we’ve promised him to continue to nurture and grow the Brewer legacy of love! A true testament to a parent’s love and a family’s strength is how well and hard their children love each other, after the parents are gone! Our wish is that all families could experience love the way the Brewers love… thank you for that, Daddy!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. “ ~ James 1:2-3