Dorothy Jean (Penrod) Brewer

Dorothy Jean Penrod Brewer

April 27, 1936 - May 14, 2025

Our dear mother, Jean, left her earthly home and family to be reunited with her husband, Gerald Lewis Brewer, “Jerry;” their daughter, Arlinda Christina; and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on May 14, 2025. Jean’s children are grateful that their Mom and Dad are together again, side by side.

Dorothy Jean was born on April 27, 1936, in Pinon, Arizona to Beulah Goodman and Leonard Lemar Penrod. She was the second oldest of seven siblings. Jean had fond memories of the ranch and sawmill where she grew up, of her father running sheep, she and her siblings stomping the wool, and of eating fruit from her grandpa’s orchard. Her parents told her green apples would make her sick, but she “didn’t remember dying over it."

When she was sixteen years old, Jean met the love of her life and her eternal companion, Jerry, at a rodeo dance in Linden. A few months later, Jerry was drafted into the army. They were married on March 10, 1952, in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They were soon stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington, where their oldest daughter was born.

Soon after they returned from military service, Jean became the postmaster for Pinedale, Arizona. She served in this position for twenty years, running the Post Office out of their family home. She did all this while raising ten children. Her added income enabled them to grow and care for their family. She was a wonderful homemaker and made a happy home along with her hardworking husband. She found fulfillment in cooking, gardening, crocheting, knitting, creating dozens of quilts, and sewing outfits for her children. She was an exemplar of hard work and instilled a work ethic in all her children.

One of Jean’s greatest joys in life was having and raising children. She instilled curiosity in each of them by teaching them to love reading. One of the fondest memories of her children was huddling together on the couch for countless hours, wrapped up in Jean’s handmade blankets, listening to her read stories from her favorite books. They would often beg for just one more chapter before being sent to bed. She was a master at teaching her children, grandchildren, and others to read.

She expected high academic performance from all of her children. Not only did she encourage her children to do well academically, but she herself finished high school in three years. She studied all her life. She especially loved to study the scriptures with her beloved husband, Jerry. She always sought to improve herself by taking classes offered at the local community college including massage, weaving, painting, and pottery. She painted beautiful pictures which decorated the family home. After receiving state certification, she homeschooled several of her children. All of her children benefitted from Jean modeling a love of learning.

She enjoyed outdoor activities with her family such as fishing, picking raspberries, climbing Pinedale Hill, flying kites, and swimming in Mortensen Wash–even if there were only six inches of water. She went hunting with her husband, once notoriously prompting another hunter to ask Jerry, “Are you sure this woman can shoot this buffalo?” Jerry confidently replied, “Yes, she can!” Jean then killed the buffalo with one shot!

Her character was marked with selfless sacrifices for her children and others. Jean served diligently and faithfully in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a teacher to countless primary children, as a temple worker, and a loving friend. She loved serving in the Snowflake Temple with her sweetheart and did so for nineteen years. Jean wrote that “the first and most sacred thing to me is the gospel and my testimony of it.”

She did not care about the material things of the world. She cared about her husband, her family, and others. Jean and Jerry created a home of safety and love for each of their children. Her children remember Jerry often singing a song to Jean, which they knew as their parents’ song: “Side by Side.”

See that sun in the mornin’

Peekin’ over the hill

I’ll bet you sure, it has always has

And it always will

Well, that’s how I feel about someone

And somebody feels about me

We’re sure in love with each other

And that’s the way it’s gonna be

Oh we ain’t got a barrel of money

Maybe we’re ragged and funny

But we’ll travel along singin’ a song

Side by side

Don’t know what’s comin’ tomorrow

Maybe it’s trouble and sorrow

But we’ll travel the road, sharin’ our load

Side by side

How joyous that Jean and Jerry are side by side again.

Jean is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jerry Brewer; their daughter, Arlinda Christina; her parents; and her brothers, Kenneth and Kim. She is survived by nine of her ten children: Dorinda O’Dair, Brent Brewer, Kent Brewer, Lucinda Keller, Barry Brewer, Kerry Brewer, Gerald Brewer, Lynnetta Montemurro, and Joseph Brewer; three brothers and one sister; thirty grandchildren, and thirty-three great grandchildren.

Jean was interred in the Pinedale, Arizona Cemetery on May 19, 2025.

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