Walter A. "Sonny" Lewis, Jr.

Sonny was born on the 23rd of January1930, to Walter and Stella Allen Lewis in Austin, Texas. He graduated in 1947 from Academy High School in Little River, Texas, but remained friends with his graduating class, even attending his 50th high school reunion.

A tireless entrepreneur and businessman, Sonny worked various jobs in his teen years, delivering newspapers and ice, stocking groceries, selling fences and owning a Phillips 66 service station. In 1950, Sonny moved to Pasadena, Texas, where he started his family. He was employed at Rohm & Haas Company for 10 years before selling insurance for Pioneer American in 1966, which became his most successful endeavor.

Sonny retired in 1992, but his endless energy and competitive spirit kept him active, volunteering, two-stepping, boating, biking, swimming, playing racquetball, traveling with friends, and beating everyone he could in cards and backgammon. His deck was never empty, and his dance card was always full.

Sonny served as president of the Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo from 1980-1982 and as chairman from 1983-1985. He also served as a lifetime vice president for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo from 1992-1994, contributing countless hours towards Texas youth and education. Through his infectious personality, Sonny made lifelong friends in both of these organizations. The HLSR also was where he met the love of his life, Lillie, with whom he shared 37 wonderful years.

The later years of Sonny’s life were spent enjoying his seven grandchildren, who affectionately knew him as “Papi”.

Sonny is preceded in death by his parents and little sister, Bynne Snyder. He is survived by his wife, Lillie; only daughter, Deborah Purdy and her partner, Dennis Moeller; a blessed and blended family in son, Corey Byrd and his wife Tiffany; daughter, Christi Byrd Smith and her husband Chase; grandsons, Cody and Carson Lewis Byrd, and Chase Winkler and his wife Courtney; granddaughters, Riley, Lilly Kathryn, Annsley and CeCe Smith; as well as a beloved niece, Jeri Dianne Jaggers; nephew Mike Croft; goddaughter, Stacy Hart Thomas, her husband, Aaron, and their son, Tyson; and many loving friends and neighbors.

Those honored to serve as honorary pallbearers are, Corey, Cody and Carson Byrd, Scott Hinsley, Dennis Moeller, Dave Scoby, and Chase Smith.

A memorial service is to be conducted at four o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 23rd of January, his 90th birthday, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.

The Lewis family would like to thank all of the staff in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center that provided such thorough and compassionate care to Sonny during his time there.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be made to either the scholarship fund of the Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo, 7601 Redbluff Road, Pasadena, Texas 77507 or the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, P.O. Box 20070, Houston, Texas 77225

“I give thanks to God for every remembrance of you.” (Philippians 1:3)