James Lewis of Lucerne died at the Wayne County Hospital on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 after battling cancer since 2001. Jim was 82 years of age.
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Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 12, 2008 at the Playle & Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 o’clock tonight at the funeral home.
Burial will be in the Lucerne Cemetery at Lucerne.
James Gerald (Jim) Lewis was born April 1, 1925 in Milan, the son of Edward and Beulah Cassity Lewis. He attended school until the 11th grade when he was drafted into the United States Navy in 1943 and served his country until 1946. He was eventually given an honorary high school diploma by the Veterans Administration. After his time in the service he returned to Missouri where he farmed in the Newtown area with his brothers.
On March 31, 1948 he married Elizabeth Tuller in Unionville. She survives at home in rural Lucerne.
Jim and Elizabeth lived and farmed in the West Liberty area of Putnam County during the early years of their marriage. They moved to their home west of Lucerne in 1950 where they have continued to live since. Jim was a self-employed carpenter and plumber for nearly 20 years. He also worked at Cooley Farm Service in Lucerne for 20 years, retiring in 2000. He continued to farm along with this employment.
Jim enjoyed fishing, picking blackberries, playing cards and shooting pool. He was an accomplished woodworker who liked to finish furniture and build cabinets. He had built the house where he and Elizabeth resided. Jim also enjoyed genealogy and family history. He and Elizabeth loved to travel. His greatest thrill was being around family. Jim was a 56-year member of the Lucerne American Legion Post #249 serving as adjutant for most of that time. He was also a member of Midway Baptist Church, having been baptized in July of 2004.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Keith Lewis and wife, Nettie of Lucerne; Jerry Lewis and wife, Donna of Newtown; and David Lewis and his wife, Deneen of Newtown; a daughter, Linda McCollum and her husband, Larry of Trenton; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Richard Lewis and friend Berniece Lowe of Cincinnati, IA and William Lewis and his wife, Betty of Ely, IA; two brothers-in-law, Eugene Johnson of Lucerne, and Noah Tuller of Newtown; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Johnson, and two brothers, Edward Lewis and Frank Lewis.
Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society and may be sent to Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th, Unionville, MO, 63565.
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