Erwin Dowdy "Brushy" Barger

Erwin Dowdy "Brushy" Barger, 86, of Pensacola, Fla., passed away April 2, 2014, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. Erwin was the youngest of 10 children and he was raised in Batesville, Arkansas by his Aunt, Clara Dowdy. He graduated from Batesville High School in 1945. He served in the navy from 1945 to 1946. After returning from the navy, he attended Arkansas Tech and graduated from Arkansas College (now Lyon College). He was united in marriage to Margaret Garner on June 16, 1950. Brushy and Margaret were members of the First Methodist Church and owned the Batesville Florist, later known as Batesville City Florist. He also was in the real estate business with his father-in-law, Bee Vanemburg. Prior to that time, he worked for Stanley Wood Chevrolet. During the 1960's, he worked for the Republican Party of Arkansas and moved to Little Rock to work for Governor Winthrop Rockefeller. He served as executive secretary of the Arkansas Real Estate Commission and in various capacities for Rockefeller & Associates. In 1983, he and Margaret moved to Pensacola, Florida and opened a real estate agency before retiring. Erwin loved golf, Razorback football, Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet El Caminos, and watching the boats on the Inter-coastal. He is survived by two children, Bee Marano (Victor) of Philadelphia, Pa. and Bud Barger (Anita) of Atlanta, Ga.; four grandchildren, Ashley Marano Gleason and Amanda Marano of Philadelphia, PA; Allison Barger of Charleston, S.C. and John Barger of San Diego, Calif.; and two great-grandchildren, Garner and Graham Gleason. Survivors also include a sister, Bobbi Jones of North Little Rock and a brother, Olen Barger of Searcy, Arkansas. Brushy was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Perdido Bay United Methodist Church (pbumc.net) or Alzheimer's Association.(Alzheimer's.org). Please sign the guest book at trahanfamilyfuneralhome.com.