Julia Ann Brewer (née Preston), age 90, passed away peacefully in her sleep in Ypsilanti, MI. She was born October 5, 1933 in Ypsilanti, MI to Earl and Aileen (Mulaney) Preston. She was sister to Winifred (Winnie), George, Delores (Jeanie), Margaret, Hugh (Hughey), and Nancy. She spent her formative years in Ypsilanti and Yale, MI, and was baptized and confirmed at Saint John's Catholic Church in Ypsilanti.

Julia married Hassell Brewer on December 21, 1963. She was a loving mother to her children, Patricia and Hassell (Mark), and a devoted grandmother to her grandchildren, Derek, Mary, Destiny, and Alexis, and her great-grandson, Theodore. Through her marriage to Hassell, she also became a stepmother to Carolyn, Barbara, Rita, James (Tad), Debra (Debbie), and Sandy, all of whom she thought of as her own, and a grandmother to Holly, Amy, James (Jimbo), and many other grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Julia was a natural entrepreneur and consistently on the go. With her husband, she owned Big D Oil and operated a highly successful '76 gas station in Brighton, MI for many years, which, in 1973, sold the most gas in Michigan. During her working years, she also owned and operated a cake baking business, pizza parlor, and flower shop, and she worked many jobs including farmer, factory worker, and school bus driver.

As a girl, Julia loved to roller skate and ice skate. As an adult and into retirement, she loved casinos and bingo, buying junk from yard sales, traveling all over America (especially to see her closest friends, Rick and Darlene, in Texas), and spoiling her grandchildren. Julia was a natural grandma.

Julia was a constant source of support for her family. She was always prepared to offer her home and table to any of her family when in need, whether she had a little or a lot. Her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews could always rely on her not just for material support, but for her blunt honesty and integrity.

Julia is survived by her sister, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents, all her siblings except Nancy, her husband, many of her nieces and nephews, and many of her friends. She lived a long life, and she lived that life to the fullest. She leaves many loved ones behind, but she passed away confident in her salvation through Christ and in seeing her lost loved ones again.

A viewing is scheduled for Friday, April 26 2-8 pm at Stark Funeral Professionals. The funeral proceeds on Saturday, April 27 at 1 pm, followed by internment at Fairview Cemetery in Brighton, MI. Father Tim Krukowski will officiate. A celebration of life will follow at Saint Patrick's Catholic Church in Brighton, MI from 4-7 pm.