Gene Lewis

Lawrence Gene Lewis Gene Lewis was born on January 17, 1932 in Manchester OK and left this earth November 21, 2013 in Yuma, AZ. Parents Cecil and Ruby Lewis raised Gene and one sister Carol in Manchester, where Gene attended Manchester High School and met his future bride, Mary Louise George. After graduation, Gene attended Northwestern State University in Alva, OK and earned his Masters’ degree in teaching from Central State University in Edmond. While in college at Alva, he married his high school sweetheart , Mary. Mary was also an Alva graduate and after raising her children, became a kindergarten teacher in Okmulgee. Gene and Mary had four children; one child, a son, died in infancy and Mary passed away in 2006 after a long battle with Parkinson’s. Gene worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Okarche OK, Arkansas City KS and Lawrence KS and settling in Okmulgee OK in 1964, retiring from Oklahoma State Technology Center in 1987. Retirement was not for him and he was appointed to manage the Okmulgee Tag Agency until his 2nd retirement in October 2013 at the age of 81. Gene’s companion in his later years was Betty Mason and they enjoyed their time together square-dancing, traveling and spending time with family and friends. They had decided to split their time between Okmulgee and Yuma AZ and had recently purchased a 2nd home there to spend the winter months in Yuma and return to Oklahoma in the late spring. They had been in Yuma just three weeks when Gene’s time on this Earth ended….Heaven was waiting and there were license tags to be sold! Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Ruby Lewis, his wife Mary and infant son, Greg. He is survived by his sister, Carol and her husband Charlie Cushenberry of Denver, CO. Gene is also survived by his remaining children, daughter Mara Dickinson, Tulsa OK, son Bret Lewis and his wife, Debi of Tulsa OK and daughter Jill and husband Jason Elmore of Georgetown TX, grandsons Blake Lewis and Max Elmore. He leaves behind his dear companion, Betty Mason and her family, Mara’s boyfriend, Bill Fleming, lifelong friends, Carl and Jeanette Miller, and many others who shared in Gene’s journey of life. Other relatives surviving on Mary’s side of the family, but remaining close to Gene are Mary’s brother Leon George and his wife Marlyce of Castle Rock CO, Mary’s sister Carol George, Aurora CO, Wilma George of Anthony KS and Ron Murphy, Wichita KS. Gene Lewis was a well-respected man in his community, and loved by his family. His kind nature and generous spirit will be long remembered. So in the years ahead, as the strawberries blossom and beg to be picked, the pecans turn brown and drop to the ground, and the OU Sooners win another one, we will remember this fine man. Visitation will be held at McClendon Winters Funeral Home of Okmulgee Tuesday, Dec 3rd from 4:30 -6:30 pm. Celebration of Life service to be held at First United Methodist Church, Okmulgee, Dec 4th at 2pm. Gene will be buried in Manchester, OK . Family requests in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to American Heart Association, Parkinsons’s Research Foundation.

Gene Lewis

January 17, 1932 - November 21, 2013