All her friends called her Berdine. She was born August 7, 1917 in St. Joseph, MO to Thomas and Anna Bates. She was a graduate of Wyandotte High School and later worked for TWA as a comptometer operator. Berdine married John Arthur Lewis in May 1945. Her first fifteen years of marriage were spent as a homemaker and raising a family. Berdine later worked in the housewares department of the Prairie Village Jones Store where she retired after twenty years of service. She was a member of the Village Presbyterian Church. She played tennis in high school. After marriage and well into retirement, she enjoyed many rounds of golf with her husband. She was a lifelong fan of horse racing and rescued many cats.
After forty years of marriage, her husband, John, passed away in 1986. She was also preceded in death by her brother Virgil Bates in 1948 and her sister Marjorie Bates in 2005. Her survivors include her two children John W. Lewis and Bonnie L. Shields and her husband, Eldon; a granddaughter, Stacey Johnson and her husband Chase; two great grandchildren, Reese and William Johnson; and a grandson by marriage, Benjamin Shields.
Berdine had a wonderful sense of humor. Until the end, April 1st never passed without at least one prank. She always had a smile on her face and frequently could be heard giggling. She will be sorely missed by all her friends and family.
Private family services are planned. Memorial contributions may be made in Berdine's name to Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Rd., Kansas City, MO, 64137.
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Wayside Waifs3901 Martha Truman Rd., Kansas City, MO 64137
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