William Anthony “Tony” Brewer, 69, of Carriere, Miss. passed away Friday, September 26, 2014.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 1, 2014 from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Picayune Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. at Picayune Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Born in Arkansas, Tony grew up in California. He graduated from Delano High School where he played football and was a popular guy. He joined the Marines in 1963 and served as a helicopter gunner in Vietnam. After his military service, he was a US Deputy Marshall in Arkansas for a time. He returned to CA and managed Desert Cab Company in Palm Springs. During his time in CA, Tony met and married the love of his life, Betty Jane. They were together for 35 years. Due to a heart attack, Tony retired early and he and Betty bought a motorhome. They traveled to visit family across the country and spent hunting seasons in Oregon. After this adventure, they settled down and bought a home in Yucca Valley, CA. It was here that Tony started driving “big trucks”. The two of them went back on the road to every continental state, Canada and Mexico. They made one last move to Mississippi in 2001, and after a serious injury in 2003 Tony retired from driving truck. He continued gunsmithing right up until the end. Tony loved his family. He felt blessed to have his three stepsons, Mark, Ken, and David as his own. Tony was a “man’s man”- oldest of twelve children, a master gunsmith, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend.

He is survived by his wife Betty Jane Brewer of Carriere; sons, Mark Rizzuto of California, Kenneth (Laura) Rizzuto of Alabama, and David Rizzuto of Carriere; brothers, Dan (Chris) Brewer, Dwight (Shirley) Brewer, Randy (Debbie) Brewer , Harlon Brewer, Everett (Phyllis) Brewer; sisters, Gail Reaves, Monie (John) Allen, Ellen (David) Morse, Janie (Todd) Warrington, Theta (Don) Taylor; brother-in-law, Curt Hill; fourteen grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Ardie May Brewer; sister, Brenda Hill; brother-in-law, Jerrel Reaves.

Arrangements are under the direction of Picayune Funeral Home.Please visit our website for the obituary. You can leave an online condolence or share photos and memories. www.picayunefuneral.com