On October 17, 2025, we lost a good man, Lewis McLeod, a man who got better with time. His good cheer and ready smile was infectious. He had a special way of making people feel seen and valued, whether you’d known him for years or had just met him. Today, we gather to celebrate the life of Lewis McLeod — a man whose warmth, kindness, and smile leaves us lasting memory.
Lewis was born in Camden South Carolina on September 15, 1952, the home of his parents Francis and Dorothy McLeod. His father was a career Army officer whose transfer from Hawaii to Ft. Bliss brought Lewis to El Paso.
Lewis’s story followed a familiar path - he graduated from Irvin High School, attended UTEP, got married, had children, spent 7-years in the US Navy, worked for Raytheon for 35-years and retired in 2013.
Today, we remember him as a generous compassionate man but like us all, his life evolved as he gained wisdom from the full-contact sport of life. Not all of us have the capacity or opportunity to change or grow, but Lewis did. He learned from his missteps, he adjusted his trajectory, his heart grew bigger – he became a better man. He embraced NASCAR and the Dallas Cowboys.
We say goodbye to Lewis – not with despair or grief, but with thanks — thanks for his kindness and the example he set. His time was too short; we wanted more of him.
