Roe Eugene Brewer

Roe Eugene Brewer was born at Webb City, Missouri, on August 7, 1904, the son of Frank Leslie and Jessie Pearl Brewer; his father was a Mason. After the public schools he attended the University of Texas, and he became manager of the computing center of the Humble Oil Company. He married Edna Clyde May, and they had a daughter, Karen Ann, and a son, Robert Stephen. A member of First Methodist Church, he served as president of its two largest Sunday school classes. His hobbies were woodworking, photography, high fidelity, phonographs and radio.

He received his degrees in Gray Lodge in 1938: the Entered Apprentice on June 20, the Fellowcraft on September 14, and the Master Mason degree on November 5. He was Senior Steward in 1939–1940 and then served as Senior Deacon, Junior Warden and Senior Warden. While he was Senior Warden, Worshipful Master Tom Sawyer was away in military service, and Brother Brewer served much of that year as Acting Master before becoming the 72nd Master in his own right in 1943.

Wartime gasoline rationing kept attendance low. Even so, the year saw steady progress. Past Master J. F. Massey, the lodge’s oldest Past Master, gave the lodge two of his certificates in the Gray-Temple Masonic Corporation, setting an example others followed. Past Master F. W. Campbell, Master in 1898–1899, visited on October 20, 1943, and shared memories of the lodge in his day. On December 15, 1943, John Wilson, who had affiliated in 1891, finally received his Fifty-Year Award. Frank Williams gave the lodge a German flag from the Navy’s action at Naples, and the indebtedness of the Humphrey Benevolent Fund was refinanced early in 1944.

A visitation committee called on the families of members in the armed forces, and the mothers were grateful to know their sons were remembered; the Texas Grand Lodge Magazine was now sent to every Texas Mason in service. On April 29, 1944, four Master Mason degrees were conferred in the afternoon, and after dinner a robed team from East Gate Lodge conferred a fifth.

Brother Brewer was made a Royal Arch Mason in Washington Chapter No. 2 on May 24, 1943, was a member of Houston Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters, and was created a Knight Templar in Ruthven Commandery No. 2 on March 31, 1944.