I only met her a few times and remember her as a wonderful lady full of life.  I worked with Tom at the SPR.  He always spoke lovingly of her.  They were a match for the ages.  My condolences to Tom and her family.  My prayers are with all of you.

I have known Karyl and Tom since 1997 when I started working with Tom at the SPR. Karyl was a lovely lady and I will remember all her kindness to me. My condolences go out to her family, Tom, and his family on their loss. She will be greatly missed.

Terry Baxter (Friend)

I vividly remember the first time I met Karyl. The date is unclear, but I recall it being sometime after her first surgery.  I joined you two at Mark Twain’s for an early supper around 5:30 or 6 o’clock.  It was getting dark, so it must have been in the winter.  I instantly liked her.  During the meal, I reached over my drink glass for salad or something, and Karyl immediately moved the glass out of the way so my arm wouldn’t bump the straw.  I was aware of the straw and my arm and knew I wouldn’t tip my glass, but I was immeasurably impressed that she was so observant of her and everyone else’s surroundings that she averted a potential accident. Most people wouldn’t have noticed the straw, the glass, or my arm, but she did.  Quite a gal, I thought.

Karyl! 

My undying memory to always be held of Karyl is that she was focused on doing the things that needed to be done, and if that meant helping you wash a dish or fill out a form or cure an illness, she was first in line to do that for you.

My admiration for Karyl reached its pinnacle when she took major responsibility for Tom's mother, Mary, after the death of my brother and Tom's father, Ivan. Mary was moved from Georgia to Metairie and for years enjoyed the full attention of Karyl and Tom. That kind of love and attention extended to other family members and friends as well.

Karyl's time with us was cut short, but her enduring presence will be felt by many of us for the rest of ours.

Condolences to Tom and to the rest of her family and friends,

Jim Westbrook

Tom,
Fond memories of Karyl.  For the love of butterflies, her cats and plants!  Always talking about the plants in the garden and milkweed for the butterflies.  
The day my niece called to say “some lady is in the front yard, I don’t know what’s she doing”.  She was cutting  milkweed for her caterpillars. She had ran out and need a few leaves. It was so funny!  If you could see my niece’s face.
Everyday Tom,  you would pick her up from work.  One day  she was walking home,  I called out as she was walking, “hey lady you need a ride”.  Of course I drove her home.  The lady she was said park I can walk the rest of the way. Trying not to put me out of my way.  Just two doors down, I said I can drop you off at your house.  
Tom so many conversations with her.  She was a gem!  
I will always remember her soft voice as we talked.
Remember I’m 2 doors down.

Rose Lee

Now you get to see where the headline photo came from - Karyl and I nuzzling heads with big giant grins at a birthday party held in Memphis for Marilyn Brewer's mom.  Not sure who said what to get Karyl to laugh like that but sister Cheryl sure grabbed a most endearing picture that day back in 2015 I believe....

Anyway, the even larger story is that Karyl and I were members of the "lunatic fringe" of the American car-buying public and bought SAAB cars over and over.  We had two 99 models in Houston; then  two classic 900's later in Atlanta; and finally managed to get the last of the run before GM ruined the Swedes and we both had 93's here in New Orleans.

The bigger BIGGER picture, however, is that SAAB originally built "aeroplanes" and still do, only they are jet fighters now.  But during the 80's they tried their hand at twin-engine turboprop commuter planes (20 passengers) and GLO airlines here in New Orleans flew three of them to short routes including Memphis for only a couple of years.

Maybe that is why Karyl and I were so happy that day...just couldn't believe we both got to fly in a SAAB up there and back and it was just another of our SAAB-fulfillment dreams coming true....

Constant growing of milkweed for the cycle of the migrations every year.  Oftentimes having to "rob" milkweed growing in the neighbors yards when she ran out.

Karyl was all about critters and their care.  Butterflies; cats and dogs.  Cats were always about and they lived for her special attentions.  There is a basic succession that began once we moved from Houston to Atlanta, with a small white fuzzy fluffy pregnant female stray name of "White Cat."  Karyl said she heard her outside during the first winter after the move.  White Cat stayed with us for years and also in the move to New Orleans which occurred with the relatively new addition of jet black and enormous "Asa." The succession progressed through "Bear," another black; "Sweetie" from Stacie, "Gomez, " "Diego" another black and his sister, "Eben" both Katrina Kats; born three days before and given their start from Karyl in the green bathroom at Ellis Pkwy.  Before Houston, there was her cat "Minoush" (sp.) and a dog name of "Norman" that had something to do with the conquest of 1512.  In the interim of the lineage above, there was "the colony" of strays supported through a bad winter and then longer at Ellis Pkwy that garnered a citation and a neuter/spay/shelter response before it was done. Karyl never wavered in her devotion to critters taken into her care, ever.  Eben the hollerer, lives on and keeps the house less quiet in her absence.

I’ve known Karyl all of my life since the Brewers  lived on the same street as my grandparents.She was one of the sweetest persons over ever known .She was always there if you needed her and I’m grateful to have known her.My condolences to Tom and Karyl’s family.

Over the course of our lifetime I witnessed so many of the lives Karyl touched. She always left everyone and everything for the better. She cared deeply about everyone who was in her orbit and made a difference whenever she could. 
Karyl was never one who wanted you to make a fuss over her. She shied away from pictures or attention. She didn’t want a ceremony. She even contemplated how she could leave the least impact on the earth when she left much like the diligent recycling she did. 
She loved her office family and the clients that came her way making sure to give everyone their personalized attention. It is because of this that her other family and friends would love to hear how Karyl touched you. They did not get to see or hear Karyl in action. They did not know how much I know she was so truly loved. 
She worked up until there was no energy left to propel her. She gave the least attention to herself all the way until the end. 
There are angels that walk among us and Karyl was definitely one of them. Her parents raised her to be a good person, but even they succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.

OBITUARIO

Karyl Lee Brewer

18 septiembre, 1955 – 13 octubre, 2023

Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries

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