BREWBAKER, J. Roye (1878-1946)

BREWBAKER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/20/2020 at 14:54:52

James Roye Brewbaker
(March 22, 1878 – March 16, 1946)

Heart Attack is Fatal to J. Roye Brewbaker Sat.
J. Roye Brewbaker, 68, well known farmer, died suddenly from a heart ailment Saturday noon at this home about nine miles northwest of Indianola near Spring Hill. Mr. Brewbaker had not been well this winter but had been able to do his farm work and was in Indianola last week. Mr. Brewbaker was a director of the Central Iowa Production Credit Assn., with headquarters at Newton. He was one of the original directors of the Newton Production Credit Assn., which later changed its name. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Olive Ruby of Omaha, and Pfc. Howard J. Brewbaker who is stationed in Germany. Services will be held Thursday, March 21, at 3 p.m. at the Methodist Church.
Funeral of Roye Brewbaker Held At Meth. Church
The main floor of the Methodist church was well filled Thursday afternoon by the friend who came to pay their last respects to J. Roye Brewbaker, one of Warren County’s most useful farm citizens. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. Ivan Bys, minister of the Spring Hill church, of which Roye had been a member since boyhood. He was assisted by the Rev. E. W. Frohardt, minister of the Indianola Methodist Church. Brief tributes were paid by Ralph Livingston of Newton, manager of the Production Credit Assn., of which Mr. Brewbaker had been a director since its beginning, and by Don L. Berry, who spoke of him as a citizen and farmer.
Obituary Is Read
Mrs. Helen Solberg Smith was at the organ. Two solos were sung by Warren Simpkins, Roscoe Hunget sang “Psalms of Glory,” which Roye had at one time requested him to sing if Roscoe outlived Roye. Burial was in the Indianola Cemetery. The following obituary was read at the services:
James Roye Brewbaker, youngest of nine children of John and Minerva Mercer Brewbaker, was born in Saylor Township near Ankeny March 22, 1878. His book on earth was closed March 16, 1946, just six days before his 68th birthday. Roye grew to young manhood on the farm near Ankeny and with the family moved to the farm west of Spring Hill 50 years ago this spring. The family has been strongly identified with religious and civic enterprises of the community during this time.
Surviving Relatives
Left to remember the husband and father are his wife, Vernie Hansell Brewbaker, to whom he was married Oct. 29, 1908; his son, Howard J., now in the service in Germany; and his daughter, Olive; her husband, A. I. Ruby, and their children, Dorothy and Louis of Omaha. Of the entire family of his mother and father, of nine brothers and sisters and their wives and husbands, only his wife of Spring Hill and Mrs. Ada Brewbaker of Des Moines remains; also five nephews, Dwight and Orien Brewbaker and Wayne Reeves of Des Moines, Lloyd Brewbaker of Ankeny and Harold Brewbaker of Chicago; two nieces, Mrs. Ardys Bishop of Norwalk and Hazel Brewbaker Likely of Ankeny, and 11 grandnieces and nephews.
Active In Church
Having joined the Methodist church in early manhood, he served it in many official capacities as steward, trustee and as Sunday School superintendent, serving five years without an absence. He instituted the graded lesson series and teacher training class in the Spring Hill Sunday school. He was a member of the I.O.O.F. and took pleasure in his duties as a citizen. Unknown, except by those he helped, he encouraged many young people of the community in a material way to further their education.
A Wide Reader
Although his formal education was meager, through a life time of reading and interest in current events he became a well read and educated man. In honor of his father, some years ago he had his daughter print a motto, which he kept hanging by his desk, “When the time comes that I must yield to the grim reaper, if my children think of me, as I think of my father, I shall be satisfied.” His children are confident that by this or any other ideal, his life was supremely satisfactory.
[Copied from a scrapbook at the Warren County Historical Society Library, Indianola, Iowa]