Harold Brumley

Born in Memphis, Texas in 1932 to Raymond and Florence Brumley, Harold grew up in Austin, graduating from Austin High and the University of Texas. In 1953, he married Marilyn Lyles and began a fifty year long medical career. Dr. Brumley went to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston before doing his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Kansas City General Hospital. In 1962, he returned to Austin where he practiced medicine for the next 46 years, and along with Marilyn, raised their four children in a loving, adventurous home until her death in 1995.

During his years in practice, Dr. Brumley delivered a good part of an entire generation of new Austinites into the world while providing cutting edge and compassionate care for his patients. Later in his career he devoted his practice to helping women with fertility problems, becoming a leading pioneer in an emerging field that included in vitro fertilization, a procedure which at that time was in its infancy. He was one of the first gynecologists in Central Texas to utilize laser surgery and in-office ultrasound technology and helped introduce both into common use in Austin. He was active in leadership roles in area hospitals, the American Cancer Society, the Travis County Medical Society and its Blood Center during its early years. He volunteered countless hours helping indigent women in his office and at clinics and hospitals around Austin and in training a new generation of doctors. Dr. Brumley adapted his skills from human reproductive and fertility medicine to help pioneer genetic and reproductive techniques with cattle and deer and served as a consultant to the U.T. Marine Science Institute on projects looking at reproduction in fish during his many years as an avid hunter, fisherman, rancher and outdoorsman.

In the late 1970's, Dr. Brumley looked at an obscure, thickly overgrown corner of Lion's Municipal Golf Course and turned it into a vision that became West Austin Youth Association. For several years he begged, borrowed and encouraged much of West Austin, as well as U.T. and city officials, into making his vision come true - sometimes being found on a bulldozer between surgical cases or in the dead of night trying to clear the raw parcel of land himself if a workman failed to do it fast enough during the day. Since it opened, WAYA has served countless Austin youths, giving them and their families a place to play and congregate in a positive way.

In 1999, Harold married Kay Willis Smith and entered a new phase in his life. The two of them spent those last few happy years enjoying friends, their ranch and travelling until he was no longer able to do so due to Alzheimer's. Harold was a member of First Baptist Church for many years. Later in his life he joined Tarrytown United Methodist Church.

Harold will be remembered for his generosity, playful sense of humor, hospitality and energy that endeared him to patients, family, his childrens' friends and an amazing group of friends and colleagues by whom he was beloved. Many will remember his mischievous, ready smile and the twinkle in his blue eyes. We are blessed to have known this kind man who dreamed big, lived big and kept smiling.

Dr. Brumley was preceded in death by Marilyn Lyles Brumley and his parents Raymond and Florence Brumley. He is survived by his wife Kay Willis Brumley, his brothers Carl Brumley and his wife Mary Alice, Jon Brumley and his wife Becky. He is also survived by his children Maryann Brumley Sayers and her husband Brian, Bonnie Brumley, Jill Brumley and Wayne Brumley and his wife Tiffany, and his eleven grandchildren, Christopher Sayers and wife Emily, Anna Sayers Balthazar, and husband Matt, Mary Claire Sayers, Jennifer Carter, Lyles Carter, Callie Pool, David Pool, Buddy Brumley, Ellie Brumley, Wren Brumley and Mary Morgan Brumley.

A big part of Harold's life was his children and grandchildren. He loved taking each grandchild on a special trip during their jr. high days. The values he instilled in the grandchildren were education, love for family and participation in the community.

Please join the Brumley Family for a casual toast to Dr. Brumley at 6:00 p.m. on Brumley Field at WAYA, Thursday, Feb 2nd.

A celebration of his life will be held at Tarrytown United Methodist Church on Friday, February 3rd at 1:30 p.m., following a private family burial. The pallbearers will include Chris Sayers, David Pool, Lyles Carter, Buddy Brumley, Matt Balthazar and Craig Pool.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to West Austin Youth Association, 1314 Exposition Blvd, Austin, TX 78703. www.waya.org/donate