Gene Lewis

Gene (Jackie Eugene) Lewis, 82, oldest son of Bill and Virgie Lewis, passed away gently, June 14, 2008 while residing in The Willows for a little over a year. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 11:30 AM at Stevensville United Methodist Church, 5506 Ridge Rd; Stevensville, Michigan. Rev. Gordon Barry will officiate the service. Friends may call on Wednesday, June 18 from 6 to 8 PM. Burial of ashes will be at Hickory Bluff Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to The Willows, Stevensville United Methodist Church or Berrien County Cancer Society. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Gene was born on September 9, 1925 in Knox City, Texas. His family moved to Sayre, Oklahoma where he grew up, before joining the Navy, 1944-1948. When he was discharged he started attending Oklahoma State University located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. While in college, he married his high school sweetheart, Evelynn Jean Thomas. Gene graduated from Oklahoma State University with an engineering degree. While in Stillwater, their first daughter, Kerry Lewis was born. Three years later, their second daughter, Chylon (Lewis) Poluhanycz was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma. His career started with Gulf Research and Development in 1951. Two years later, he joined Oklahoma Natural Gas where he worked for 10 years doing many phases of the business. He laid out new gas lines, worked in the meter and machine shop, in the production fields and theaccounting and sales department. In 1965, he asked to move to Benton Harbor and was appointed district manager for Michigan Gas Utilities. He remained with M.G.U. and retired from the Monroe office after 26 years of service. He was always very competitive and loved sports. Two recreational skills he developed over the years where bowling and golf. He continued to stay active in these two sports until he was 75; bowling and golfing on leagues. Gene and his cherished wife Evelynn were together for 56 years. He loved his family and would tell you the most important things in his life were his “Three Girls”. Both of his daughters are teachers and he was proud to speak of his girls and the work they did with children. Gene will be remembered by many people that he helped along life’s way. He will be missed greatly, but his smile and his caring and gentle ways will live on in the people who knew and loved him.