Gladys V. Lewis

Today we gather to celebrate the life of a truly remarkable woman-our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. At 91 years old, she leaves behind a legacy of faith, family, and love that very few people ever achieve.

She was a devoted wife to Jessey, a proud veteran; for 72 years of marriage. She stood faithfully by his side. To her husband she was lovingly known as Bonnie-a name spoken with tenderness, admiration, and deep affection. Their marriage was a living testimony of commitment, sacrifice, and enduring love. Now, we find comfort in knowing that Gladys has been reunited with her beloved husband together again for eternity.

Gladys was a woman of strong and unwavering faith. She was a devoted Baptist who believed firmly in the Word of God, trusting the King James Version of the Bible as her guide throughout life. Her faith was not only something she spoke about – it was something she lived daily. She loved to read her bible, it shaped her values and the way she loved others. She leaned on Scripture in time of joy and in times of hardship, and she also passed that foundation of faith down through generations. She spoke highly of her pastor and church family and enjoyed the fellowship with them.

As a mother, Gladys was the heart of her family. She raised six children: her oldest son, James Lewis; daughters, Debra Williams and Sheryl Lewis; and sons, Michael Lewis, Christopher Lewis, and Timothy Lewis. She poured her strength, wisdom, and love into each of them, teaching by example what it meant to persevere, to care for family, and to stand firm in one’s beliefs.

Her greatest joy came from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They brought her immense happiness, laughter, and pride. As a grandmother of 21 grandchildren, great-grandmother of 24, and great-great-grandmother of 3, plus one to come. Gladys delighted in watching her family grow. Her face lit up when they walked into the room, and her heart was fullest when she was surrounded by them.

She found great happiness in life’s simple pleasures also. She loved long drives with her husband, Jessey. Having breakfast at Hardee’s before church, at home she enjoyed watching old westerns and classic game shows, finding familiarity in them. She enjoyed going to yard sales, finding little treasures, and she truly enjoyed eating out.

She is preceded in death by parents, Charles R. Siegfried and Thelma E Siegfried; her siblings, Betty Siegfried and Thelma Lewis; and we take peace in knowing they are together again.

She is survived by her loving siblings, June Roberts, Carol Abbott, Charles Siegfried, Ruth Weathers, Arlene Roberts, Helen Abbott, Donald Siegfried, and Robert Siegfried – each holding a lifetime of shared memories and love.

Gladys lived a life rooted in family, devotion, and faith. She was a quiet strength, a woman whose influence and love reached far beyond what she may have ever realized. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the family she nurtured, and the faith she passed down.

We close with a promise from the Word of God that she loved and trusted.

Psalm 139:14~I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Though we grieve today, we also rejoice in a life well lived and a soul now at peace. Gladys’ love remains with us in our memories, in our hearts, and in the generations that follow.

A Visitation for family and friends will be held from 8:30-9:15am, Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at Merritt Funeral Home (2 South Lemon Avenue, Brooksville FL 34601), where Funeral Services begin at 9:15am. A committal service will follow at 11:00am at Florida National Cemetery (6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513).