William E. Brewer

(Bill), age 89, passed away June 27, 2015. Mostly of Scottish decent, William was born in 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri ~ the son of Elizabeth and Clarence and step-father, Arthur. His siblings were Charles, Arthur and Donald.His childhood nickname was "Whitey" given his very light hair. As a young man, he trained in the sheet metal trade and at age 17, Whitey enlisted in the U.S. Navy. This brought him to Idaho, then Bremerton, WA and Dutch Harbor, AK where he served with the 409th Battery Group training as an anti-aircraft gunner. He was also a Navy baker and cook.Whitey was then assigned to Winslow Marine Railway & Shipbuilding Company during World War II. While based in Winslow, Whitey worked on the U.S.S. Gayety AM 239 ~ a minesweeper being built in Winslow. At that time, he also met his future wife, Cecilia, who was a Bainbridge Island native.In 1945, Whitey served in the Navy Taskforce 58 in Pearl Harbor, HI during the invasion of Okinawa. He was honorably discharged in November 1945. Whitey returned to the Seattle area and married Cecilia Jane Towey in 1946 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church.After marrying, they moved to St. Louis to be closer to his family, and there started their own family. They eventually returned to Bainbridge Island where they lived in Eagledale and raised their family of five girls and one boy. Whitey worked in the automotive field with painting, body and fender his specialties.Children include Elizabeth (Betty) Ann, Nicolette (Nickie)Frances, Christina (Tina) Marie, Mary Kathleen (deceased), Elaine Jane and William (Bill) Edward, Jr. Whitey embraced a wide variety of interests: boating, fishing, camping, gardening, and raising cows, chickens, turkeys, horses and dogs. With his children, he competitively showed horses and then customized cars, achieving many awards for both.Whitey was married to Cecilia Jane for 59 years before her passing in 2005. He enjoyed being a grandfather and great-grandfather. And he was an avid sports fan.A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday July 3, 2015 at 10:00 am at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, reception to follow (1310 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110). Memorial gifts can be made to the Salvation Army, King County Processing Center, P.O. Box 60004, Prescott, AZ 86304-6004 (funds to be used locally).Please sign the guest book and leave memories for the family. Arrangement entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home.