Donald Lee Brewer

BREWER, DONALD LEE (Knoxville), beloved husband, father, son, brother, grandfather and friend died February 13, 2012 at his home. He was 55 years old. Don was born August 8, 1956 in Fort Worth TX to Paul and Imogene Brewer, the gregarious middle child of three sons. He grew up in Jefferson City, TN where he attended school, loved sports of all kinds and excelled in tennis. Following graduation from Jefferson High School in 1974, Don earned a B.A. from UT and was a four-year letterman on the tennis team. He started work as a teaching pro at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas, TX after graduation and eventually earned the title of Director of Tennis. In 1995 he and his young family returned to Knoxville where he launched a career in commercial real estate, and established his own firm in 2000, Realty Investment Services. During his ten years as principal there, Don's expertise and reputation grew to the extent that in 2010 his small firm merged with New York-based global real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield to form Cornerstone CRES, where he worked until his death. Don remained a competitive tennis player and golfer and enjoyed athletic competitions of all kinds, especially UT sports. He passed this love on to his children and greatly enjoyed coaching their teams in younger years and cheering them on in football, basketball, tennis, softball, track and cross-country. Don's life has been marked with success in many different arenas. In 2004 he was named one of Jefferson High's 50 Great Athletes. He took the West High School girls tennis team to the state championship in 2000 as a volunteer coach. In the business arena he brokered many high-profile transactions and earned the respect of his peers through his penchant to develop win-win business opportunities, his strong work ethic and his ability to work easily with many different types of people. In 2011 he was named Knoxville Commercial Broker of the Year. Throughout his life, family and friends have been drawn to Don's inquisitive mind, and open, adventurous spirit. His wide circle of friends included people from all points in his life -- childhood playmates and classmates, opponents and teammates on the tennis courts, college buddies and roommates, neighbors and family friends, business associates and competitors, among many others. He was a proud father, caring son, and loving husband. Don is survived by his devoted friend and wife of 32 years, Andrea Gosselin Brewer; sons, Eric (Melissa) Brewer of Lexington KY and Jake (Lauren) Brewer of Knoxville; daughter, Elle Brewer; parents, Paul and Imogene Brewer of Jefferson City TN; brothers, David Brewer (Marissa D'Amico) of Mamaroneck NY, Dan (Sherry) Brewer of Maryville TN; in-laws, George and Mary Gosselin of Kingsport TN, Judy and Cliff Kresge of Kingsport TN, Peter Gosselin of Kingsport TN Jeff and Cheryl Gosselin of Pauma Valley CA; grandchildren Hunter, Hudson and Hayden Brewer of Lexington KY; as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers, Walt Bearden, Peter Cancro, Dan Cooper, Tracy DeLatte, Don Dickey, Lamar Gibson, John Gillespie, Rusty Hutcheson, Ron Koksal, John Kreis,, Bailey Sharp, Bill Taylor, Mike Terry, and John Voss. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 17 from 4:30 - 7:00 at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel, 6200 Kingston Pike. A memorial service will be held at the St. John's episcopal Church downtown Knoxville Saturday, February 18 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Breakthrough Corporation,1805 Maryville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com

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Donald Lee Brewer

August 8, 1956 - February 13, 2012