Jack Lewis

Jack was born in El Paso, Texas on April 28, 2930, to Thomas J. Lewis Sr and the former Agnes Lucille McNeese. His father being a clothing salesman, he lived in numerous places as a child, most notably Los Angeles from the 4th-8th grades, before his family settled in Corpus Christi. Once settled in Corpus, his family operated the Lewis Clothing Store which supplied suits and naval uniforms to the local Naval Air Station. He graduated from Corpus Christi High School (now Corpus Christi Miller HS), and then attended Corpus Christi Junior College. After the beginning of the Korean conflict, dad and several of his friends decided to enlist and dad joined the Air Force where he served for almost 3 years before receiving an early hardship discharge to go home and help his family after his dad became ill.

Once Jack was back in Corpus Christi, he resumed his studies. He attended Texas A&M briefly, but transferred to Texas A&M in Kingsville where he graduated with General Engineering degree. It was around this time that dad’s roommate (Don Parker) and Don’s girlfriend, Marlene, invited dad over for canasta . . . and a blind date with a Marlene’s roommate, a young teacher who grew up in Houston . . . Jeannine Cunningham. Mom said she knew she would marry dad that night; dad said it took him a couple of months . . . but dad’s future was set during that game of canasta.

He and mom were married in 1956 . . . and were in love for 37 years. Recently dad told me that he never thought about re-marrying because it wouldn’t be fair to the other woman because she would always be compared to mom.

Once dad graduated from College he began work for the Texas State Highway Department where he worked, first in Corpus Christi and then Houston, before taking a job with the Columbia Gulf Gas Transmission Company where he worked for more than 25 years before retiring in 1991. In retirement, dad and mom operated The Straw Basket antiques shop which was located first at The Blacksmith Shop in Bellville, Texas, and later at Heights Station (The Heights, Texas), and the Georgetown Antique Mall on the Square in Georgetown, Texas. Dad lived in Houston from 1964 until 2005 before moving to be closer to his older son and grandchildren in Austin.

He is survived by his son Tom Lewis and his wife Linda of Leander, Texas; his son Randall S. Lewis and his partner Rob of Falls Church, Virginia; Grandsons Thomas J. Lewis IV and Brett R. Lewis of Austin, and Daniel Allen of Denton, Texas; Granddaughters McKenzie L. Lewis of Austin, and Aimee Allen of Austin; Brother-in-Law Charles Cunningham and wife Vicky of Houston; Brother-in-Law Donald Cunningham and wife Norma of Austin; Sister-in-Law Barbra West and husband Bill of Houston; Sister-in-Law Carolyn and husband Gene of Georgetown; Brother-in-Law Butch and wife Paula of Pearland; Sister-in-Law Beverly Nowlin and husband Jerry of Whitehouse, Texas; and Sister-in-Law Shirley can Cunningham of Phoenix, Arizona; and 33 nieces and nephews. Jack was preceded in death by his beloved wife Jeannine C. Lewis on April 23, 1994.

A viewing will be held at Chapel of the Hills, 9700 Anderson Mill Rd., Austin, Texas 78750 (512-335-1155) on December 19, 2013 from 6 to 8. A visitation will be held at 1:30pm with the funeral service following at 2pm at Forest Park-Lawndale, 6900 Lawndale St, Houston, Texas 77023 (713-928-5141) on December 21, 2013. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association.