Carl Brewer

Carl Guinn Brewer, beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away April 19, 2024 at Park West Hospital.

He was born in Athens, Tennessee to the late Paul and Della Cranfield Brewer. Carl met the love of his life, Mary Jo Arnwine at McMinn High School in Athens. They had their first date on his sixteenth birthday. He chose to transfer to St. Andrews School in Sewanee, Tennessee where he served as Head Prefect his senior year and received "Best All Around" award. Carl and Mary Jo dated long distance for four years and married July 13, 1963. Carl took a job at Mayfield Dairy Farms where he retired after 47 years. Carl was a member of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church. He served in the U.S. Army 1967-1969. After spending a year in Vietnam as a teletype operator, he spent his remaining 18 months at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida where he served on a six man team called "Strike Command" that was created by President John F. Kennedy. He traveled to many countries including Iran, Turkey, India, South Africa, Brazil, Greece, Spain, Japan, Pakistan, and others. His favorite place was Mauritius Island. He was awarded the Army Commendation Metal for his meritorious service in Vietnam. After his service to our country, Carl and Mary Jo became parents to Emily and Holly. Carl was a dad filled with love and adventure. He taught the value of hard work and to stay positive, kindhearted, honest, humble, honorable, forgiving and responsible. Carl was a uniquely gifted artist/craftsman and expressed it through oils, pen and ink and watercolors. He will always be remembered for his hundreds of original creations out of wood. His most sought out items were the many different styles of ducks, doll houses, and wooden chests. This grew into a small business. His items were sold at stores in Gatlinburg, Andrew Morton's in Knoxville and Law's in Maryville plus numerous art shows. He did this as a way to pay tuition for Emily and Holly to attend Christian Academy of Knoxville. Carl loved being a grandfather (Papaw) who spent lots of time with his grandchildren, taking them to the mountains for the first snow of the season, to the farm to play in the hay and the creek, he let them help him build their tree house, and bought kayaks to enjoy on the lakes. The great granddaughters came late in life but brought joy every time they came to see him. Papaw will be remembered for his love, compassion, truth, honesty, and his servant heart (and his delicious grilled cheese sandwiches).

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Emily Brewer Hudson of Knoxville, Tennessee and son-in-law, Justin Grimm, also of Knoxville, brother-in-law Charles Melton of St. Marys, Georgia, father and mother in law, Ray and Eleice Mason Arnwine of Niota, Tennessee, brothers-in-law Jim Arnwine of Knoxville, and John R. Arnwine and his wife Shirley of Niota.

Carl left behind to cherish his memory, his wife of 60 years, Mary Jo, his daughter, Holly Brewer Grimm, his grandchildren Layten Hudson(Marissa), Noah Gage Ragland, Kylie Beets Perez (Xavior), Brayden Beets and Carly-Eleice Tinly Grimm, and great granddaughters, Everleigh Grace Hudson and Nina Maria Perez, all of Knoxville. His sister Frances Melton of St. Marys, Georgia, brother-in law Buck Arnwine (Vicki) of Knoxville, Tennessee, sisters-in law Maxine Arnwine Kerley (Warren) of Athens, Tennessee, And Glenda Murray Arnwine of Knoxville, Tennessee, David and Kaye Childress of Parrish, Florida and longtime friends Dr. George Vick and "Grease" Mobley of Knoxville, Tennessee and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Carl signed the national Donor Registry in 2018. He was a giver in life and in his death. Carl was cremated at Companion Funeral Home in Athens, Tennessee. His family will have a private burial. We will celebrate his life at Second Presbyterian Church, 2829 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee, on July 20, 2024 from 3-5 pm.

You are encouraged to share a memory of Carl and/or your personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist his family with these arrangements.