Vernon Haskel Brewer was born on October 9, 1939, to Loyd Earl Brewer and Vera Mabel Harris in Brumley, Upshur County, Texas.  He was the third of four children and is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Cecil Earl Brewer and Troy Dwayne Brewer, and his oldest son, Gregory Ray Brewer.

Haskel died peacefully at home on October 18, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. A surprise diagnosis of liver cancer in the summer of 2025 was followed by treatments that did not benefit him. When Haskel chose to begin hospice, he told his family and doctors that he had led a long and happy life and had no complaints.

Haskel’s family lived in East Texas and the Houston area while he was growing up. He graduated from Sam Houston High School in 1958 where he played varsity basketball. He met his long-time friend, J. C. Ethridge, while in high school. Haskel loved to tell funny stories about growing up with his brothers – hunting with Cecil and the antics of their dogs and tying Troy onto the back of a calf with him ending up with his head in the dirt.

Haskel met his first wife, Joyce, in high school, and they were married in 1958. They had three children – twins Gregory and Cynthia born in 1959, and Phillip born in 1960. Greg unexpectedly died in a boating accident in 2021, a heartbreaking loss for Haskel, as they were very close.

Haskel’s first major job was at Phillips Petroleum as a Junior Draftsman. After leaving Phillips, he worked at several small companies, eventually hiring on at Sage Discount Store in Houston as a Salesman. He was promoted to General Manager, then Buyer, and moved his family to Austin to help open a store there. He met his best friend, Gary Bryson, while working at Sage in Houston. They built a boat together and often fished at the Texas City Jetties and Galveston Bay. Good times, much laughter, and shenanigans would abound when Haskel and Gary were together.

From 1966 to 1979, Haskel was the Electronics Buyer at Oshman’s Sporting Goods, where he met his future wife, Judy Clarice Riewe. They were married on June 2, 1979, at Hope Lutheran Church in Friendswood, Texas. On June 28, 1991, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Holly Nicole, who has always been “the sunshine” of her daddy’s life. They loved to play hide-and-seek in the house when she was young, with her holding up one finger and saying, “Just one more time Daddy.” She often sat in his lap when he mowed the yard with the riding mower.

Another “ray of sunshine” came into Haskel’s life when his grandson, Michael Brewer Casey, was born on July 28, 2022.  Michael enjoyed spending time with “PawPaw” in his woodshop and watching Cocomelon cartoons together.

Haskel was born with an entrepreneurial spirit and was a hard worker. After leaving Oshman’s, he cleared land in Pasadena with the help of family members and his partner and friend, Jim Hines. Upon completion, Country Weekend Common Market was opened. The outdoor flea market and concession stand was run by the two men and their families for seven years. During this time, Haskel also owned and operated several dump trucks with employees who worked at many construction sites in and around the Houston area.
After selling the flea market, Haskel worked for his son, Greg, at Quality Air and Heating, learning about installations and repairs from Greg and his father-in-law, Clarence Riewe, with whom he shared a special bond.

When an opportunity was presented, Haskel left Quality Air and became the General Manager of Comfort Air and Heat in Pasadena. He worked there until his retirement in 2007.

Haskel was a man of many talents and loved working with his hands, restoring antique furniture that belonged to Clarice’s grandparents, and renovating houses. He remodeled a home in Lubbock while Holly attended Texas Tech University and another in Pasadena after Holly graduated for her to live in. He was also self-taught on computer technology and built several PCs from scratch. He had a woodworking shop built behind their garage and used a wood lathe and other tools to create many beautiful bowls, vases, flowers, and animal figures that were given to family and friends. He never sold his works of art but reveled in the joy that his pieces brought to others. He also made special gifts for his grandson Michael – a chair from a family cedar chest heirloom, a toy wooden race car, airplane, three-piece train set, and whistle.

Haskel loved to play golf; and for many years, he could be found on Saturdays at the
Pasadena Municipal Golf Course enjoying a round of golf with his son, Greg, and many other friends.  Afterwards they would share a few rounds of beer and discuss … what else … golf!  There were even several midnight golf tournaments played by flashlights and car headlights, being featured in local newspapers and on Houston TV news programs.

Haskel never lost his sense of humor. Every weekday for the past 15 years, he spent
time at Frank’s Grill in Pasadena having breakfast or lunch.  Haskel developed a special rapport with one of the servers, Sylvia Duron, and they enjoyed kidding one another and bantered back and forth.  He also enjoyed visiting on the phone and playing golf with lifelong school friend J.C. Ethridge.

Haskel is survived by his wife of 47 years, Clarice; daughter Holly Casey, husband Kevin, and their son Michael, of Alvin; daughter-in-law Lisa Brewer, grandsons Gregory Brewer, Jr and family, and Jonathan Brewer, all of the Houston area; sister-in-law Regena McMurrough and husband Tim, of Conroe; nephew Daniel McMurrough of Conroe; niece Erin Ray and husband James, of Cypress; good friends J. C. Ethridge of Houston and Sylvia Duron of Pasadena, as well as many other friends and relatives.

The family would like to thank Dr. Jeffrey Smith from Kelsey-Seybold for his kindness and care of Haskel over the years, as well as Vitas Hospice nurse Debbie, and aide Nikki, for their care and compassion during the last year of his life.

At Haskel’s request, there will be no formal funeral or memorial service. He will be cremated with the family keeping his ashes and remembering him with love.