Steele Conway Brewerton, MD passed away peacefully on October the 13rd, 2023 in Magrath, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Brewerton was born to LeGay (Lee) and Jane (Fisher) Brewerton on May the 26th, 1923 in Raymond, Alberta. He was the eldest of two sons, predeceased by his brother, Teddy E. Brewerton. He is survived by his wonderful and loving wife of 77 years, Blaudwin Loree (Nelson), and by his five children; Bonny J. West of Magrath, Alberta, Conway N. Brewerton (Carmen) of Lethbridge, Alberta, Byrne R. Brewerton, currently of Baghdad, Iraq, Cortney S. Brewerton (Ilena) of Cedar Hills, Utah, and Marci N. Peterson (Paul) of Mesa, Arizona. Dr. Brewerton also has 26 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren.
Dr. Brewerton received his BSc in 1945, and then his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alberta in 1948. He completed medical training in Family Practice at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the University of Alberta Hospital (1947 – 1948). Dr. Brewerton also completed a full residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology (requiring training in Obstetrics, Gynecology, General Surgery, and Pathology) at W.H. Groves Hospital in Salt Lake City (1954), as well as several hospitals in Honolulu, Hawai’i including Kuakini Hospital, Queens Hospital, and Kapiolani Maternity Hospital (1961 - 1962 and 1964 - 1965). Dr. Brewerton loved practicing medicine as a family practice physician, obstetrician and gynecologist, and general surgeon in Raymond, Magrath, and surrounding rural areas for thirty years from 1949-1979, then in Graham, Texas from 1979 -1997. Over the course of his career it is estimated that Dr. Brewerton delivered well over 8,000 babies.
Dr. Brewerton, with his wife Loree, loved traveling & attending medical conferences around the world, visiting diverse locations such as China, Yugoslavia, Malaysia, Singapore, Costa Rica, Panama, Spain, and the United States.
Dr. Brewerton was very active in the local community where he served as a member of the Cardston School Board for seven years and on the Magrath Town Council. He served as Deputy Mayor, and subsequently as Mayor of the Town of Magrath, where he was instrumental in the paving of many of the residential roads and in the planning of the Garden Villa Apartments and the Diamond Willow Terrace.
In 1979, Dr. Brewerton moved to Graham, Texas where he continued to practice medicine and serve the community. He served as the President of the Graham Concert Association, was an active member of the local Rotary Club, and became one of the founding members and first President of the Graham Medical Society.
In September 2013, Dr. Brewerton was honored with the University of Alberta Alumni Honor Award, a lifetime medical achievement awarded by the University of Alberta Medical School for his many years of outstanding service. In September 2014, he received the Alberta Medical Association Award for Distinguished Service at their Annual General Meeting, which was accompanied by a standing ovation.
Dr. Brewerton was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His church callings in Canada included a short-term mission in Saskatchewan and Northern Alberta. He served as Sunday School Superintendent, a Sunday School teacher, Elders Quorum President, and Stake Mission President.
While living in Graham, Texas, Dr. Brewerton presided as Branch President for over 15 years. His dedication to the community and the good will Dr. Brewerton nurtured with the people in the city, coupled with his Church calling and the Branch members (and non-members) who he faithfully and willingly served, was critical to the approval and construction of the city’s first Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel. Upon retirement, Dr. and Mrs. Brewerton served a full-time mission in San Diego, California between 1997 and 1999, where he was the Mission doctor for all the missionaries in that Mission.
In 2003, Dr. and Mrs. Brewerton returned to Southern Alberta, first moving to Cardston, and then finally returned to Magrath, where they began their married life and Steele began his Medical Career. They purchased a home, where they resided for five years, which they then sold & moved to the new Diamond Willow Terrace, before health issues necessitated first, Steele’s move, then a short time later, Loree’s move to the Good Samaritan Society Garden Vista Nursing home, also in Magrath. They were very happy to be united again and recently celebrated their 77th Wedding Anniversary this past May.
Dr. Brewerton’s family extends heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated and caring staff of the Good Samaritan Society Garden Vista Nursing home in Magrath for their exceptional kind and loving care during their time there.
The Funeral Service will be held in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Garden Place Chapel, Magrath, Alberta on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Friends may meet the family from 1:00 - 1:45 p.m., prior to the service. Interment to follow in the Magrath Cemetery.
As we honor Dr. Brewerton’s lasting legacy, let us also remember the great memories and generational impact he left behind.