Tillie Brewer

Matilda "Tillie" Lesh Brewer, who was known for her unconditional love and generosity of spirit, died at a local hospital on Friday, April 4, 2014 three days after suffering a fall outside her home. She was 89 years old. To her family and friends, she was a guiding light, the woman you went to for comfort and companionship. She made time for everyone and touched so many lives. Visitation will be at 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 7, at Pecan Grove Funeral Home, 3124 Robinson Drive. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, at St. Louis Catholic Church with Father John Guzaldo officiating. Burial to follow at Waco Memorial Park.
Til was born on March 14, 1925, in Hamburg, Arkansas, the third of five children. She loved her status as "the middle child." Her parents, Michael Joseph Lesh and Mary Herlevic Lesh Wallesh, both originally from Croatia, owned a farm where the children worked long hours growing up. It gave Tillie a life-long work ethic. Indeed, even after she fell on April 1, fracturing her pelvis in three places and unable to get up, she began weeding a nearby flowerbed while waiting for help to arrive.
Her family moved from the farm to Joliet, Illinois, where Tillie graduated from Joliet Township High School in 1943. Shortly later, she moved to Rye, New York, with her sister Fran, where they stayed for a while with another sister, Mary. Tillie and Fran moved to Waco in 1948 to be near their other sister, Agnes. All the sisters were very close throughout their lives.
In Waco, Til met Marlin "Rick" S. Brewer. They married in 1954 and Tillie became very close to his extended family in Waco, east Texas and Houston. In 1958, Tillie and Rick bought a house in Robinson, which had been built by her brother-in-law, Johnnie McBryde of McBryde Homes. Til lived in that house for the rest of her life. For nearly 60 years, her home was a gathering place for friends, the source of countless family reunions and big Thanksgiving dinners. Tillie was known for her exceptional cooking, sewing, cross-stitch and needlepoint skills. Her cross-stitched Angels were legendary and hang in the homes of many family and friends.
Her only child, Marla Ann Brewer Crawford, was born in 1961. She was an extraordinary mother and best friend to her daughter. Family members often noted how devoted they were to one another. "She was my life," said Marla, who once inscribed a book to her mother by writing: "What did I do to deserve you - God must have known I needed someone like you."
When Tillie's husband was diagnosed with cancer in 1969, Tillie nursed him with great dedication and compassion until his death in 1978. During this time, she relied on her sister, Agnes, and sisters-in-law, Cecil Connor and Effie Goldsmith, to watch over Marla. Til also helped support the family by sewing, creating wardrobes for scores of women and girls. After her husband's death, Tillie went to work as a bookkeeper for a number of places in Waco, the longest being Waco Spring and Brake. She was also the primary caregiver for her mother, Mary Wallesh, who eventually moved into the Regis Retirement Center, where Til served as a board member for a number of years.
Tillie loved to travel, was part of a bowling league for years, and enjoyed spending time with her sisters and long-time devoted family friends, Shirley Chatham, Martha Cox, and Sue Morrison, who preceded her in death this February. Her daughter, sisters and friends brought her great joy and marvelous memories to look back on and laugh about throughout the years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sisters, Agnes McBryde Holmes and her husband, Johnnie McBryde and Mary York and her husband, Harry York; her brother, Michael Lesh and his wife, Georgiann Lesh; and her brother-in-law, Bob Vickers.
She is survived by her sister, Fran Vickers; her daughter, Marla Ann Brewer Crawford and her grand-dog daughter, Amber, James Crawford Jr. and James Crawford III; 12 nieces and nephews; and numerous great and great-great-nieces and nephews. She was beloved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed - leaving a hole in the hearts of many.
The family would like to thank the staffs of Providence and Hillcrest Hospital, the Providence Rehab Clinic Staff, Dr. Charles Schultz Jr. and Dr. Rosario for their care and concern during the past few years. Also - thanks to all her family and friends throughout the years who were her treasure?she loved you all!
In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Matilda Brewer may be made to the NASPR (North American Shar-Pei Rescue) Organization at sharpeirescue.com or to the American Cancer Society.