Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Lewis L. Lee

Lewis L. Lee, 82, of Oklahoma City, Okla., died Wednesday, October 13, 1999.

Mr. Lee was born in Gandy, Okla, May 22, 1917, and was the eldest of three children born to Viola and Luke Lee. He graduated from high school in El Dorado May 31, 1934, at the age of 17. He then attended junior college in Magnolia before going to work with his father at a sawmill in Florence, La. There he met and married Loraine Perkins, a marriage that was to last 43 years until Loraine's death in 1981. Lewis and Loraine had no children. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, received an honorable discharge and returned to work in a local baker. Lewis enjoyed baking so much that in 1949-50 he attended the American Institute of Baking in Chicago, Ill. Upon graduation he returned once again to the south to follow his trade for the next 30 years. After the death of Loraine, Lewis married his neighbor and good friend, Flora Benson. The two had been members of the same Sunday school class at Beech Street Baptist Church in Gurdon. They were blessed with 12 years of marriage before Flora's death in 1997. When Lewis married Flora, he inherited a large family of six adult children and their spouses, 21 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren and nine great great grandchildren. Never again was life to be the same. Lewis never strayed far from his religious upbringing with his family, especially those strong beliefs of his mother. He enjoyed reading his Bible daily and the last few years has read through it each year. When Lewis' activities became so very limited, gospel music became his companion. Mr. Lee was a member of Beech Street Baptist Church of Gurdon for many years transferring his membership to Soldier Creek Baptist Church of Midway City, Okla., after moving there to live with his children. Lewis spent his last days and moments in his own room surrounded by loved ones the way he had prayed that he would. Mr. Lee is preceded in death by his parents, Viola and Luke Lee, his brother, N.L. Lee, and his sister, Nelva Hodgens.

Survivors include two nephews, Milton and his wife, Margaret, and Lewis Wayne Lee, all of Gurdon; a niece, Beverly Camp of Camden; a cousin, Marceal Smith and her husband, Jack, of Shreveport, La., a precious childhood friend and love for over 70 years, Florence Prince Dillon, of Minden, La., his stepchildren, Zenia and Ted Hartsock of Glendale, Ariz., Ruby and Roy Mills of Oklahoma City, Okla., Billy and Madeline Benson of Arkadelphia, Patsy and Larry Harrell of Glendale, Ariz., Margaret and Pete Hooper of Midwest City, Okla, and Johnny and Nancy Benson of Bossier City, La. He also had 21 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Saturday, October 16, at Beech Street Baptist Church with interment in Rose Hedge Cemetery under the direction of Horne Funeral Home of Gurdon.