Jerome E. Lewis

Fairview – Jerome “Jerry” E. Lewis, 82, died Monday, June 18, 2007. A native of Hot Springs, NC, he was the son of the late Runie Ebbs Lewis and William Arthur Lewis, Sr. and also was preceded in death by his brother, William A. Lewis, Jr. and a sister, Melba L. Mashburn. Jerry was a veteran, serving his country in the US Army from 1942-1947. After his military service, Jerry attended UNC-Chapel Hill from 1947 through 1951. Jerry’s Senior profile in the 1951 Yackety Yack reads: “B.S. in Commerce; Chi Psi; Monogram Club (2, 3, 4); Cross Country (2, 3, 4); Track (1, 2, 3); YMCA; Western N.C. Club; Carolina Athletic Association, Vice-President.” Jerry earned his B.S. degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 1954. He began his professional career as a sales associate for Phillips Petroleum Company in 1954. In 1985, after 30+ years with Phillips, Jerry retired and he and his wife Jackie returned to Western North Carolina. Jerry is survived by his wife, Jackie R. Lewis; five children, Becky Lewis of Asheville, David Lewis of Kansas City, KS, Linda Lewis Shiek and husband Allen, of Asheville, Jeff Lewis and wife Betsy, of Roswell, GA and Kelly Lewis and wife Jane, of Lebanon, MO; two sisters, Catherine Burnette, Katy Lou Bridges and husband Reeves, of Asheville. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren, Aaron Lewis, Josh Lewis, Tasha Markham, Jessica Young, Amanda Brayman, Sarah Young, Daughtry King, Hillary Lewis, Alyssa Lewis, Spencer Lewis and Elizabeth Lewis; four great grandchildren, Kailee Young, Kamille McGee, Samantha Brayman and Logan Brayman. Jerry had eight nieces and nephews, Michael Freeman of Waipahu, HI, Lewis Bridges of Grantsboro, NC, Steve Freeman of Monroe, VA, Jan Freeman of Richmond, VA, Sharon Green of Asheville, Kriss Freeman of Lynchburg, VA, Philip Freeman of Raleigh and Carolyn Rogers of Charlotte. A Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday at St. Barnabas Catholic Church. His family will receive friends from 7-8 pm Friday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. Memorials may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church, 9 Crescent Hill Dr., Arden, NC 28704.