Published: June 18, 2009 10:37 am      

James Lee Lewis

James Lee Lewis, 65, of McAlester, died Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at McAlester Regional Health Center.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Bishop Chapel of Memories with the Revs. Bob Deshazer, Linda Snider and Virgil Martin officiating. Burial will be at Blanco Cemetery under direction of Bishop Funeral Service

Born Dec. 21, 1943, in Atoka, to Jim Monroe and Ellen Elkins Lewis, after attending high school, he entered the United States Navy on Oct. 27, 1965, and served two tours in Vietnam. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with One Bronze Star and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with device before earning his honorable discharge on Aug. 25, 1970.

After serving his country, where he also obtained his GED, he returned to McAlester and continued his education at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, where he received his auto mechanic degree. He owned and operated McAlester Foreign Car service until he sold the business. He later continued to work in the automotive business, working on peoples’ automobiles from home.

He was an ordained minister of the Pentecostal Church of God in Kiowa, where he also was a Sunday school teacher and played the guitar.

Survivors Include two sons and a daughter-in-law, Jeff and Robin Lewis, of Kiowa, Gerald Wayne Lewis, of McAlester; two granddaughters, Shanda Lewis and JoLinda Lewis, of Kiowa; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Ellis Dan Lewis, of Blanco, Roy Edward and Colleen Lewis, of Kiowa, Delmar and Sue Lewis, of Wewoka.

And, three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Betty Jo and Tommy Ellis, of Kiowa, Carol Jean and Ardy Wingo, of Haywood, Vivian Lewis, of Blanco, and the mother of his sons, Linda Sue Lewis Willis, of Pittsburg.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Ellen Lewis.

Pallbearers include Dewayne Meadows, Darrel Lewis, Michael McMahan, Jimmy Don Beasley, Tommy Peaks and Jody Lindley.

Honorary pallbearers include Terry Daniels, Dennis McMath, Joe Beck and Leon O’Dell.