Thomas Lewis' Obituary
On Tuesday, February 21, 2012, Thomas W. Lewis departed this life in Mercy Hospital, Springfield, MO, at the age of eighty-six years and two months. Thomas fought the good fight; he finished the race well, and with a strong faith.
Son of Elwood T. Lewis and Grace B. (Belle) Lewis, Thomas Lewis was born December 21, 1925 in the state of Nebraska. He grew up among the corn fields and gently rolling hills of the family farm. His family moved to Seymour, Missouri during a spring snow storm that brought Tom to the house of his future bride, Laura Nell Drybread. He started his senior year at Seymour High School, but received his draft notice before graduation. Tom faithfully served as a medic in the United States Army during World War II. After his discharge from the US Army, Tom came home to find that his dear friend Laura had married a fellow medic in the Army and was living in Peoria, Illinois. Tom then moved to Kansas City, Missouri to live with his aunt and uncle. There he met and married Dorothy Jones; and to this union a son and daughter were born. Tom worked as a switchman for the Kansas City Southern Railroad for forty-two years, retiring in 1987.
Tom is preceded in death by his wife of fifty-two years, Dorothy Jones Lewis; their son John Elwood Lewis and their daughter Linda Lewis; his parents; his brother Ellis H. Lewis; his sister Thelma Massey; his step-daughter Kathleen Selberg; and his son-in-law Jim Perdue.
More than fifty years after he had said goodbye to his childhood sweetheart, Tom discovered that they were both now widowed so he went to Peoria, Illinois to meet Laura. They rekindled their friendship and were married at Elmwood, Illinois, Country Club on October 28, 2000. The now blended family returned to their roots. Easter weekend of 2001, they bought a home and moved to Seymour, where they have shared for the past eleven years.
Tom accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior during his time in the service, and faithfully served his Lord throughout his life. He was a member of the Methodist faith and was active in his church. Faith, family and his country were the important parts of his life. Tom loved his family, faithfully taught them to love the Lord and served his neighbors, his church family and his country.
He leaves behind his loving wife Laura Lewis of the home; his two daughters, Charlotte Perdue of E. Peoria, Illinois, and Marie Heinz and husband P.J. of W. Peoria, Illinois; six grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren; two brothers Hayden C. Jones and William R. Lewis; two sisters, Lila M. Slover and Rita Goss; several nieces and nephews as well as a host of other family and friends.
We will miss Tom’s sense of humor and the faithful way he took life’s struggles in stride. We will miss his daily ritual of reading the Newsleader and the love and tender care he gave his garden. He leaves behind a legacy of love, of courage to fight for what you believe in and faith to carry us through our own hard times.
Thomas W. Lewis was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and a caring neighbor and friend. We will cherish the memories he has created for us, and will carry on his memory by celebrating his life and accomplishments. We can take comfort in knowing we will meet again.
Services for Thomas W. Lewis will be held Saturday, February 25, 2012 in the Holman Howe Chapel, Seymour, Missouri at 11 am. Burial will be held Monday, February 27, 2012 at 11am in the Green Lawn Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri. Visitation will be Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 9 am till time of service. Memorials may be made to the Fordland Methodist Church i;n care of Holman Howe Funeral Homes PO Box 366, Seymour, MO 65746.
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