Lee Allen Brewer | 2018

Long-time resident, Lt. Colonel Lee Allen Brewer, USAF (ret.), passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 19, 2018, at the age of 94. Lee is survived by his daughter, Christine Brewer Settles of West Seattle and son Mark Brewer of Dallas Texas, as well as four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

After retiring from the US Air Force, Lee brought his family to Friday Harbor in 1968, and raised Chris and Mark, who attended Friday Harbor schools until graduation.

Local residents will probably remember him driving his bright yellow 1914 Model T, “Buttercup” in parades and around town.

Known by residents as a local artist, he wrote an autobiography named “Kick the Tire and Light the Fire” an entertaining story about life during the depression in West Seattle, as well as subsequent stories about his service as a navigator flying missions over Japan in WWII and flying F-86 fighters in Korea.

Lee was a local fixture at the marina and airport with his 40-foot schooner, the “Rainbird” and his 1938 de Havilland Tigermoth bi-plane. He was an avid aviator all his life, and his passion for flying was well-known by all who knew him.

One day, as he was working on the Rainbird at the Marina, a tourist came up and asked him if he was paid to look “authentic.” Such was his persona!

The Brewer family invites anyone who wishes to pay their respects to attend a memorial celebrating his life.

All are invited to share stories and memories of their own. The memorial will be held at Ernie’s Café at the Friday Harbor airport on Saturday, Aug. 11, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The café will not be open for food, but the Brewer family will provide refreshments and snacks.