Joan Lewis

Joan raised her children, James, Katherine and Cecily in fifteen

different homes on three continents. On June 17, 2012, she passed

away peacefully, in the beautiful home in Belleair where she

spent her final years.

She was born on February 16, 1926, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Lulu and

Curtis Bryan. Joan was their only child. From an idyllic upbringing in

Tulsa, she then spent the War years in Washington D. C., where her

father distinguished himself as an Army Colonel.

Her excellence as a student led her to Wellesley College, where she

graduated with distinction in 1947. There she met an ambitious M.I.T.

engineer, James Ernest Lewis, who took her to the oil fields of East

Texas. From there, they journeyed to Venezuela, then England, and

eventually Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he finished his career as an

economist for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

In all of these travels, Joan created refuge and stability for her

children, who were able to embrace the diversity of their surroundings

without any sense of dislocation. Joan immersed herself in each

community. She was an active member of the Junior league in

Houston, California, Oklahoma and even Ethiopia.

Once her husband retired, they continued to travel extensively. Her

beautifully written letters describing her adventures were treasured.

After her travels were done her greatest joys came from following the

adventures of her children and grandchildren. In her final months just

as she was her whole life, her primary and overriding concern was for

others. Everyone who met her was struck by this most singular

characteristic. For this, and so many reasons, she is sorely missed.

Joan is survived by her children and their spouses Cecily Anne Kenny

(David), Katherine Joan Lewis, James Ernest Lewis, Jr. (Michelle)

and five grandchildren Bryan, Jess, Christopher, Cameron and Andrew.

A graveside service will be 3:00pm Saturday June 23rd at Serenity

Gardens Memorial Park-13401 Indian Rocks Rd. Largo, Florida 33774.

Visitation will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements and online condolences may be made at

www.mossfeasterlargo.com