Betty Brewer

Betty Romo Brewer, 102 years young, of Gainesville Texas made her journey to Heaven to be with our Lord and Savior on February 2, 2022.

Service for Betty will be held at First United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Texas on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 2:00 PM with graveside service to follow at Fairview Cemetery.  The family will receive visitors on Friday, February 11, 2022 from 6:00-7:30 PM at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home.

Betty was born on January 13, 1920 in Los Angeles, California to parents Salvador and Evelyn Lopez Romo.  Betty graduated from Belmont High School in Los Angeles.  As a teen, Betty was passionate about gymnastics and could be found working out at the famous Muscle Beach.  It was there she was discovered and asked to join the Peaches Sky Review which was an all-girl troupe that performed high acts both nationally and internationally landing in New York City at the 1939 World’s Fair.  She loved to tell the stories and show her pictures of the all-girl troupe setting up all their own rigging where she performed her hand stands 90 feet in the air climbing hand over hand by rope to the top of the pole without a safety net.

During WWII Betty served her country as a “Rosie the Riveter” and very proud to have worked at Douglas Aircraft on President Roosevelt’s personal plane.

Betty then went on to join the world-famous Ward-Bell Flyers where she learned various high wire and trapeze acts which brought her to Gainesville in 1947.  Betty became an instrumental part of the historical and legendary Gainesville Community Circus where she performed from 1947-1954.  She came to Gainesville as a professional to become an amateur and in her words “I love it, I love it.  Being a part of the circus was one of the best parts of my life.”  Betty starred in a sway pole act, made the costumes and assisted in training the animals where she met the love of her life Vern Brewer.  Together they would train and show the famous Gerry the Elephant.  She and her circus days were featured in a PBS documentary “Nowhere but Texas” on a segment called “Gainesville Community Circus.”  Betty married Vern Brewer on November14, 1951 in Gainesville where they lived the rest of their lives and proudly raised their four children.

Betty had a love and passion for animals.  Betty and Vern are world renowned for their National Champion Shetland ponies of the 1940’s through 1960’s and continued to be a dominant factor in the breeding and showing of World Grand Champion American miniature horses since the 1980’s.  Her impact in both Shetland and miniature horse circuits are cherished still today.

Betty was adventurous and had a love of travel.  She was a successful and avid deer hunter with “10 shots, 10 deer, 10 points.”  Betty in her 60’s along with Vern were an active part of the Gainesville Ski Club and loved to snow ski getting both kids and grandkids involved.  Betty taught swimming for the American Red Cross.  She had a willingness to help others.

With all her accomplishments her dearest title was Mom and Nana.  She devoted most of her life to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren making her home loving and welcoming to all.  Betty was heavily involved in her children’s school activities serving as a PTA host, room mother and Blue Bird Mom.  She is still remembered as “feeding the 5000” and being a gracious host for Gainesville Leopard sign painting parties.  Betty loved Leopard football, cheering on the TCU Horned Frogs and never giving up on the Dallas Cowboys.

Betty is survived by her son and daughter in law, Dennis and Gillian Brewer of Grapevine, Texas, daughter and son in law, Betty Lynne and Kent Southerland of Irving, Texas, son and daughter in law, Roy and Gayla Brewer of Gainesville; granddaughter Cristin Payne, granddaughter and husband Stephanie and Tony Davis, grandson Dustin Brewer, granddaughter and husband Amanda and Greg Fox, grandson and wife Matt and Lynsey Schneider, granddaughter and husband Brittany and Trae White, granddaughter Ashley Schneider, granddaughter and husband Andrea and Jay Lambert, grandson and wife Cody and Whitney Brewer, granddaughter Elizabeth Brewer and grandson Chisam Brewer and 14 greatgrandchildren, Brayden, Brooklyn and Brody Fox, Jacob and Macie Kindiger, Cade, Bishop and Landry White, Asher, Hewitt and Aubrey Brewer, Grace, Savannah and Jackson Lambert.

Betty was preceded in death by parents, Salvador and Evelyn Romo, devoted husband Vern Brewer, daughter Kathy Payne, brother Julius Romo, sister Rae Gray and sister Cissy Harris.

Pallbearers will be Cody Brewer, Chisam Brewer, Jacob Kindiger, Trae White, Greg Fox, Jay Lambert and Matt Schneider.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Home Hospice, First United Methodist Church or Morton Museum.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Mary Caraway and her caregivers at Wesley House.