R. "Pat" Patrick Lewis

January 20,1951 - January 5, 2025

Pat died peacefully surrounded by family at their family cottage at Sebim Beach, Barrington after a long battle with prostate cancer. He leaves his loving wife of 50 years, Coleen who cared for him until the end.

Born in Digby he grew up in Weymouth and attended school there completing grade 12. He graduated from Dalhousie University with BSc majoring in biology. During his adult years he had the opportunity to find employment wherever he lived. He started his family with Coleen in Weymouth where he was employed with Lewis Lumber Company in the office and on the mill site. He had the opportunity to start up a new company with other partners and established Lewis Sawmill Limited purchasing logs from Lewis Lumber and private woodlot owners. Eventually JD Irving Ltd purchased shares in their company and expanded the mill. He had fond memories doing block layout for JD Irving woodlands with his co-worker Randall except on days after a heavy snowfall and wet snow falling down their necks from tree branches. Pat and Coleen purchased a large home in Shelburne, NS and enjoyed doing extensive gardening and restoring the home. He worked at Black Bull mining as supervisor, Nova Feeds, Meteghan then Wilson’s Home Hardware, Barrington in the lumber yard during this time. They sold the Shelburne house and moved to Milton, NS close to Coleen’s place of work. Pat then found a job and travelled to Greenfield and worked at that sawmill as the shipper, overseeing orders and the loading of lumber on trucks.

Move to Upper Port Latour, Shelburne County was the next chapter when Coleen came back to Barrington to work. Restoration of the family cottage at Sebim Beach started. He returned to Wilson’s Home Hardware.

The next move was to Bedford to reside next door to their son, Chris and family. Coleen transferred to continue working in Halifax. Renovations continued at the cottage with the planto retire there. Pat started employment at Kent Distribution Centre, Lower Sackville. He also worked part time at Fabricville, Bedford as shipper-receiver.

In 2021 they moved to the cottage to live full time. back to Wilson’s Home Hardware until he retired in April 2023. He missed seeing his fellow employees and kept in touch with many.

Pat made friends everywhere he went, everywhere he lived and everywhere he worked. The thing is he didn’t work for the work. He worked for the people and the relationships that he had at work. He even went and picked up people to go to work because they didn’t have a drive. He was one of the nicest people you could ever meet according to his son, Peter. He was always friendly, polite and cheerful.

An eight month visit to Margaree area, Cape Breton was the next adventure for Pat and Coleen to care for a family member. During this time Pat spent time travelling the roads with a family friend, Emile. Walked the beaches, watched salmon fishermen on the Margaree, watched live music at local halls, enjoyed the visits to Fletcher’s store to pick up the weekly Oran and went to the local coffee club to mingle with the local people.

Pat has lived an adventurous life. From boyhood when he made trips to Barrington, NS with his family to visit his grandparents, Bessie and Ralph Pinkham and his cousins, especially Jon. They spent time at the family cottage at Sebim. At home he spent many hours on the shore of the Sissiboo River playing on ice flows, throwing rocks and much more. bike riding with his friends Andy and Malcolm. As a young man he went goose hunting in PEI with his father and others. Later in life he made many trips to Annapolis to hunt ducks with brother-in-law, Barry and sometimes sister, Laurie joined them. He enjoyed going to hunting and fishing camps with friends. Built a camp with friend Randall (other friends helped), went on wilderness canoe trips in the middle of NS. Loved kayaking, curling, playing hockey and baseball, gardening and always needed a family dog to lay at his feet.

He had many opportunities to travel which was one of his greatest desires. At age 18 he and his family travelled across Canada in their car with a trailer in tow. He has made business trips to Europe, Oregon, Quebec, NB and NF. He went on three cruises consecutively with his cousin Jon and friend Randall to the Mediterranean. Went to Yukon with other friends for a few days. He often travelled to NB to visit Pete, where he spent time at the lake and enjoyed pontoon boat trips on the Saint John River with Fred and Sharon Arbuckle. Fishing trips in Ontario to Island 10 Fishing Retreat, Lost Lake Wilderness Lodge with Jon and friends. Poplar Resort, Ontario with his friend and Kent co-worker, Trevor. His last fishing trip was at Rideout’s Fishing Lodge in Maine with his two sons Peter and Chris before his health started to decline.

Patrick had few regrets, but they all involved spending more time with the people that he loved. He didn’t have the chance to travel to England with Liz and Tom, or help Fred Arbuckle during maple syrup season in Dumfries, NB. He wanted to return to Belle Cote and spend time with brother-in-law Ian. He also wanted to go on another fishing trip with his sons.

Survived by his spouse, Coleen and two sons Peter (Nackawic, NB) and spouse Michelle and Chris (Bedford, NS) and spouse Julia. Mother, Marion Lewis (The Meadows, Yarmouth), Siblings, Elizabeth (Tom) Bennett and Laurie (Barry) Faulkner both from Weymouth,NS. Grandchildren, Myles, Ally (NB) and Reese, Beckett, Grae and Eli (Bedford). In-laws, Gail Cosman, Marianne (Stephen) Richards, Joanne (Ian) Matheson, Stephen (Jeanne) Cosman. Several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Predeceased by his father Gifford in 1980 and brother in law Richard Cosman.

Special thank you to physicians, Dr Thana and Karen Howlett. Patty Merchant, RN at the Cancer Care Centre Yarmouth. Palliative team, Dr Phillip Cooper and Tracey Smith, RN. VON nurses and the Sobeys Pharmacy team, Barrington Passage. Cremation has taken place. There will be a funeral service at the Weymouth Church of Christ on May 24, 2025 at 2pm with reception following for celebration of Pat’s life. Requesting family flowers only. Donations to the Lodge That Gives, the Weymouth Church of Christ or a charity of your choice in Pat’s memory.

To everyone who has sent their kind words and condolences sharing their stories and memories of Pat, the family thank you.