Obituary of Billy Leo Lewis

Billy Leo "Bill" Lewis August 10, 1928 - August 11, 2010 Celebration of Life services for Billy “Bill” Leo Lewis, 82, of Lovington, will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at New Beginnings Church with grandson, Lee Lewis officiating. Burial will be conducted first at 10:00 am at Lovington Cemetery then immediately go to the church for the service. Services are being conducted by Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home. Bill was born on August 10, 1928 in Burbank, Oklahoma to Leo Lawrence and Eula Mae (Crafton) Lewis and passed away at his residence on August 11, 2010. He came to Lovington at 12 years of age and when he was a sophomore they moved to Bixby, OK where he graduated from high school in 1946. He met the love of his life, his wife, Mary Jo Browning and they were married on July 22, 1949 in Portales, NM . Bill worked for Gulf Oil Co. for several years, moving around in West Texas then returned to Lovington to farm in 1960. In 1966 he joined the U.S. Postal Service, retiring from there in 1991. He was very active in the Kairos Prison Ministry, the Jubilee Choir, and a member of the worship team at New Beginnings Church. He had also been a long-time member of Jackson Ave Baptist Church before joining New Beginnings. He and Mary Jo started with the hobby of candle making and turned it into a ministry that was wide spread, touching many lives with their witness and cross candles. Bill was first and foremost dedicated to God in everything he did and he loved his wife, children and grandchildren. He was an inspiration to everyone that knew him and his love for the Lord was unequaled. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers: Ralph Crockett and Larry Lewis and one sister: Suzy Shipp. He is survived by one son: Bill and wife Beth Lewis of Lovington, NM and two daughters: Margie and husband Don Camp of Roswell, NM and Sammye Jo and husband Jim Campbell of Big Spring, TX; two brothers: Leonard and wife Ellie Mae Crockett of Bixby, OK and Kenny Lewis of Tulsa, OK and one sister Lorene Lawrence of Lafayette, LA. and a host of friends. Memorials may be sent to NM Baptist Children Home, PO Box 629, Portales, NM 88130 in memory of Bill Lewis. Visitation will be on Friday, August 13, 2010 from noon until 8:00 pm.