Evander McIver Lewis, Jr.

Evander McIver Van Lewis, Jr. died April 2, 2009 at the age of 83 at home in San Antonio, Texas with the love of his life his dog, Smokey, at his side.

Mr. Lewis was born in Jackson, Mississippi on February 17th, 1926. He attended Central High in Jackson before moving to San Antonio, Texas in 1944 with his mother and sister when his mother remarried Edwin M. Jones of Jackson, and San Antonio after the death of his father.

Mr. Lewis attended the University of Texas where he pledged Kappa Sigma fraternity. He served in the United States Army during World War II, and was discharged in October of 1945. Mr. Lewis was the President of the Edwin M. Jones Oil Company, 404 Development Company, and the San Antonio Galleria. He was a member of the San Antonio Country Club, and the Argyle, and the Lyford Cay Club in Nassau, Bahamas.

He loved to play golf, and in his younger days enjoyed tennis also. It was on the golf course of the San Antonio Country Club that he lured a very hungry dissheveled stray dog with food. That dog he named Smokey, and Smokey became his constant companion and friend for the duration of his life. Smokey was indeed the love of his life.

Preceding Van in death was his father: Evander McIver Lewis of Jackson and his mother: Henrietta Yerger Jones, and his step-father: Edwin M. Jones of San Antonio.

He leaves his sister: Nancy Lewis Welsh of Memphis, Tennessee and her children: Nancy Welsh Smith, and Andrea Welsh Edwards Doug of Memphis, and Deborah Welsh Parrott Chip of Mobile, Alabama. He also leaves eight great nephews and nieces :Charles Foster Smith Palmer of Memphis, Lewis Frazer Smith of Washington, DC, Katharine Rhett Smith of Atlanta, Georgia, George Douglas Edwards, III of Dallas, TX, Nancy Elizabeth Edwards of Memphis, and Samantha Ann Parrott, Meredith Ruth Parrott, and Linda James Parrott all of Mobile. In addition, he leaves other close relatives including Wirt A. Yerger, Jr., Judge Swan Yerger, Rivers Yerger Lurate, Kathryn Yerger Becker, Mark Yerger, and George Yerger, all of Jackson, MS, and Ivan Yerger, of Scottsdale, Arizona.

The family would like to thank all of Mr. Lewis's caregivers that made his life comfortable in his later years.

Visitation will be one hour prior to service at Porter Loring.