“The loving couple, the Breuers, made a lifelong pledge ‘to love and cherish till death do us part.’ Little did they know that even death couldn’t diminish the love and passion they shared. Their connection was so profound that it transcended even the end of life itself.”
Raymond and Velva had been married for 77 years when they passed away. They couldn’t imagine life without each other, and everyone who knew them could confirm that they did everything together. They were even buried in the same casket, a testament to their deep and enduring love.
The most fascinating detail was Raymond’s remark to the medical staff about the possibility of being buried with his wife when they left this world. No one expected this lighthearted comment to come true.
“Dad told a nurse before he passed that if they passed away close together, they should just be buried in the same casket,” their son Bobby Breuer recounted to the Columbia Tribune.
“He said it jokingly, of course. But others overheard it, and we asked the funeral director. Mom was petite, and Dad wasn’t very tall.”
This devoted couple shared over 77 years of marriage. As high school sweethearts, their love story demonstrates that sometimes we are indeed meant to spend our lives with one special person.
Raymond and Velva tied the knot in 1940 after finishing high school together in Dawson Township, Phelps County. Raymond had a job with Ford in Missouri, but after retiring, he and his wife moved to North Carolina.
In 1994, Raymond and Velva made their way back to Missouri after dedicating a decade to serving as a pastor and a volunteer elsewhere.
Raymond and Velva enjoyed excellent mental health, even as they reached advanced age.
Their daughter attributes their sharp minds to their love for reading novels, emphasizing how they both found joy in diving into books.
Even when Velva entered Lenoir Woods Rehab Center in 2016, Raymond’s unwavering dedication to her never wavered. He remained constantly by her side, opting to sleep on a cot in her room—a poignant testament to their profound commitment to each other.
Raymond passed away at the age of 97, while his wife was 96.
Their deep love resulted in a large and thriving family. They are survived by 18 grandchildren, along with numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, a testament to the legacy of their enduring love.
“They were incredibly fortunate throughout their lives,” remarked Bobby Brewer. “Despite facing health challenges, they managed to overcome them. We consider ourselves lucky to have had them.”
State Rep. Cheri Reisch of Hallsville fondly recalled their unwavering bond: “They would always hold hands and occupy the front-row pews of the church. They were inseparable, a true testament to genuine love.”
And why should it be any different now that they’ve passed? They slept in death as they did in life, holding hands and remaining inseparable until the very end.
