Regina Lydia Neal Brewer

REGINA LYDIA NEAL BREWER Regina Lydia Neal was born June 11, 1915 she passed away on January 25, 2016 at 9:05 a.m. We look forward to a glorious reunion with her in heaven, restored to perfect health both in mind and body. A Celebration of Life Memorial Mass for Regina will take place at a later date when her urn will be interred in her plot at the Cortez, Colorado Cemetery next to Stanley Edwin Brewer, her husband of 69 years. Regina was born in a sod house on a homestead in the heart of the Sand Hills, near Mullen, Nebraska. She was the daughter of John Luther Neal Jr. and Mary Anna Regina (Herncall) Neal. As the oldest daughter of seven children she learned early the many duties of a farm family. Regina began her formal education at a small country school taught by a cousin and attended by several relatives. Her mother, a former teacher, loved to read and would often read stories to the children especially during the long winter evenings. Music was also a popular entertainment in the family home, as they listened and sang along with a record player, or the organ her Father bought for $20. Years later Regina finally obtained her dream when she found a ten dollar bill and was allowed to spend it on 20 organ lessons. For most of her life she loved to relax by playing simple songs on the organ or piano. When Regina was about 11 years old the family moved to Mullen so the kids could attend high school. After graduating in 1932 she attended summer school at Chadron State Teachers College to obtain a teacher's permit. She taught in Nebraska country schools for five years before losing her heart to a cowboy named Stanley Brewer. They were married on her birthday in 1937 at the Parish House in Salt Lake City, Utah. After living for a few months in Utah they moved to Squaw Point, south of Dove Creek, CO. There they began their life as farmers. Through hard work and much sacrifice they were able to purchase two half section farms and clear a portion of the land. During the depression she even took a class and then taught her neighbors on Squaw Point how to make mattresses. They made a mattress for each family of three and two mattress for families of four or more. In 1938 their first son was born followed by eight more children in the next 10 years. Although Regina lost her first child in a tragic farm accident when he was ten months old and her last two sons to toxemia she did not dwell on these tragedies. Instead she focused on her blessings and gave of herself to others. Stanley contracted "dust poisoning" due to breathing in the fine dust while combining beans and wheat on their farm. His doctors told him to move to a lower altitude for his health. So in the fall of 1947 they moved to Nebraska. The next 20 years they rented out their farm (for 20% of the annual crop) while planning their return to their beloved Colorado. Regina continued taking college classes, learned lots of new skills from Homemakers Extension Clubs and friends, taught school, taught her six children to cook and sew, and led 4-H Clubs. She was always willing to set aside what she was doing to help someone else. Her home was always open for anyone in need and the meals she served could always be stretched to share with whoever stopped by. The last fourteen years while living in Nebraska she packed up her household each summer and moved to a ranch in the Sandhills where Stanley had contracted to put up hay. We never heard her complain about the facilities. She made do. We always had clean clothes and plenty of good food. Her talents were many. She made clothes for all of us and she made sure they were in style. She cut all of our hair, made quilts for our beds and decorated cakes for our family and others. Her hands were never idle. In 1967 Regina and Stanley moved back to their Colorado farm. Initially they lived in a small trailer while Stanley began clearing a large portion of their timbered land. They worked together to build their log home and restore their orchard and gardens. In 1975 Regina was awarded the Master Farm Homemaker of the Year for South Western Colorado. In their free time they enjoyed camping with their Good Sam Club friends and dancing at the Senior Center in Cortez. The highlight of the year was hosting many of their friends for the October campout on their farm. They also enjoyed hunting for semiprecious rocks with which they created jewelry. Each summer they joined their fellow members of the Ute Mountain Gem and Mineral Club for their annual rock show to display both rocks and their creations. Regina has spent the last fourteen years of her life battling Alzheimer's, with the last nine years, 10 months living at The Valley Inn in Mancos, CO. She is survived by her children, Neal Brewer, Barbara (Dan) Jackson, Betty Bovee, Regina "Gina" (Mark) Schaus, Jerry Brewer, and Nancy (Lewis) Schultz; 24 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren; her sister, Mary Dorthy Johnston of Mullen, NE; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley E. Brewer; three sons, Francis, twins Daniel and Donald; her parents; brothers, Joseph Neal, Francis Neal, Alois Neal, James Neal, and Peter Neal; also two sisters Anna Crouse and Alicia Neal.