Brewer , Herbert DeVerneHerbert DeVerne Brewer died on Thursday, November 10, 2016, at age 86 in Rochester, New York. He was born on June 3, 1930 in Oneida, New York. His parents were DeVerne F. and Mabelle Greene Brewer. He, his brothers Robert and Richard, and sister Virginia grew up on the family dairy farm on West Elm Street. Herb knew how to drive a team of horses and hand milk cows. At age 12 he started a poultry business. Herb graduated from Oneida High School in 1948 as valedictorian of his class. He majored in farm economics and dairy science at Cornell University. Six feet tall and 147 pounds, Herb rowed for the Cornell Lightweight Crew. After graduation, he sold his poultry business of 900 chickens, bought 3 dairy cows, and went into a dairy partnership with his father in 1953. He started a boy's 4-H Club which he led for 22 years. He married Mary Lou Sipperley of Tuscarora, New York in Tuscarora on September 22, 1956. They settled on Brewer Farm in Oneida where Herb farmed until 1983. In 1969 he was elected alderman from the 5th ward in Oneida. He served as mayor of Oneida from 1971 to 1983. As mayor, he engaged a wide variety of people in civic projects including the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council, low-income housing, and the renovation of public utilities. One of his favorite achievements was the creation of a tree-planting program dedicated to preserving the beauty of Oneida's tree-lined streets. He was active in the New York Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials and served as the Vice-President and President. Herb was a member of the Oneida Methodist Church and the Rotary Club.In 1983, Herb was selected to lead the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce in Ithaca, New York. Herb helped to bring the NYS Empire State Games and the Summer Special Olympics to Ithaca. He and Mary Lou, who served as the 4-H Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, lived in Ithaca until they retired in 1994. They enjoyed trips abroad to over 40 countries. Herb and Mary Lou lived in Palm Coast, Florida in the winter and in Piseco, New York in the summer until August 2016 when they moved to Pittsford, New York. In 2015 Herb was inducted into the Oneida City School District Foundation Wall of Distinction. In September this year, Herb and Mary Lou celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.Herb is survived by his wife Mary Lou, his children Susan, Russ, Tom, and Beth, his grandchildren Holly, Casey, Nathan, Joshua, James, and Justin, his great-grandchildren Luke Wright, Raylee Brewer, and Emma Brewer, his brothers Bob and Dick, his sister Ginny , and many nieces and nephews.Calling hours will be held at the Oneida Methodist Church at Main and Grove Street on Friday, November 18, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 19 at 2 PM at the Oneida Methodist Church followed by refreshment and fellowship in the church social hall. Arrangements are under the direction of the Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, Inc., 260 Main Street, Oneida. The family requests that in lieu of flowers or gifts that donations be made to the Memorial Fund at the Oneida Methodist Church or to your local hospice. To leave a condolence please visit www.campbell-dean.com CAMPBELL-DEAN FUNERAL HOME, INC.