Rev. Earl McIntyre, Jr.

The Reverend Earl A. McIntyre, Jr. died on February 24, 2021. Born in Houston, TX in 1933, he was the second son of Lois and Earl A. McIntyre, Sr. Both parents, an elder brother, Richard, a younger brother, Melvin, and his youngest son, Paul proceeded him in death.

He began his schooling at Garden Oaks Elementary in Houston. He spent a year out of school recovering from scarlet and rheumatic fevers. He came with his parents to Brenham in January of 1942 and joined the second grade of Central Elementary School. On Palm Sunday of 1943 he was baptized by The Rev. Bill Connerly and confirmed as a member of the First Methodist Church then located on the corner of Jackson and College Streets. He graduated from Brenham High School in 1952. During his high school days, he was an honor student, and participated in many extracurricular activities and sports. He was also active in community and church programs at both the First Methodist and First Baptist churches.

He attended Lon Morris Junior College in Jacksonville, Texas where he was elected to Phi Theta Kappa honor fraternity; Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas where he was elected to Pi Gamma Mu social science honor fraternity and Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He was ordained a Deacon in The Methodist Church in 1958 and ordained an Elder in 1961. He did post graduate work at the Institute of Religion at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, participated in a long-term experiment in the renewal of the local church conducted by the Ecumenical Institute of Chicago and participated in the Doctor of Ministry of Drew University in New Jersey.

The Rev. McIntyre began his ministry as a licensed Lay Preacher in The Methodist Church in October of 1951 while still a junior in high school, preached and conducted Sunday worship services in several Methodist churches in the Bryan District for the next two years. In his first year at Lon Morris Jr. College, he was asked to serve as a Student Supply Pastor of the Rusk Circuit. He continued to serve The Methodist Church as a student supply pastor until ordained Deacon in 1958, serving three other appointments -Lott & Chilton, Bremond and Union Ridge. As an Elder he was appointed and served Union Ridge, Stewart Memorial in Buffalo, Texas, Keltys UMC in Lufkin, Love UMC Methodist in Houston, China-Nome UMCs, Jacinto City UMC, First UMC Mont Belvieu, St Mark’s First UMC in Port Arthur, Pasadena Blvd UMC, First UMC in Cameron, Terrace UMC in Houston, and First UMC in Athens, Texas.

The Rev. McIntyre retired in 1998 after 45 years of dedicated service and returned to Brenham to re-enter the general ministry as he researched early Christian history, pondered Christianity’s address to the 21st century world context, explored his own ancestry and enjoyed time with his family, which he loved deeply and of which he was enormously proud. A forever learner, he received his Amateur Radio License in Oct. 2018 and joined the Stephen F. Austin Radio Club.

He is survived by his wife of almost 68 years, Shirley (Mitchamore) McIntyre of Brenham. Shirley was his high school sweetheart and devoted partner in his pastoral ministry. They were married in 1953 in the First United Methodist Church in Brenham by the Reverend Charles Lamb. Their marriage was blessed by five children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Of his five siblings, he is survived by three sisters.

After cremation, a graveside service will be conducted at the Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham at 2:00 pm on March 13, 2021. A celebration of life memorial will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to First United Methodist Church Brenham, 408 North Baylor, Brenham, TX 77833.