James Arthur Lewis

Mr. James Arthur Lewis, 72, of Madisonville, KY, passed away Thursday, October 13th, at Ridgewood Terrace Nursing Home in Madisonville. \ He was born Janary 17, 1939 in Beulah, KY to the late Arthur and Beulah Wilkey Lewis. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Sympson Todd Lewis; two sons, Michael Henry (JoAnna) Lewis of Annandale, VA, and Jamie Harvey Lewis of Madisonville; one step-son, Timothy Sympson Todd of Murray, KY; two step-daughters, Teri Ray of Kevil, KY, and Traci Ella Todd Peyton of Knoxville, TN; one sister, Judith Ann Lewis (Ron) Jones of Louisville; two grandchildren, Heidi Lewis, and Parker Gentry Lewis of Annandale; two step-grandchildren, Jon Todd Ray of Paducah, and Kaleigh Ray of Murray; and one step-great-grandchild, Marijka Ray of Paducah. \ Mr. Lewis graduated from Charleston High School in 1957 and attended Western Kentucky University. \ Mr. Lewis was a member of the First Christian Church of Madisonville, where he was a Deacon. He spent ten years in Lewis Service and Tire Sales in Beulah, four years at Kerco, and retired after thirty one years of service from Warrior and Roberts Brothers Coal Company. Mr. Lewis was also a Special Deputy Sheriff from 1977-1982, a 50 year Mason at the Beulah Masonic Lodge, Potentate at Rizpah Shrine in 1996, and instrumental in starting the South Hopkins Water District where he served on the board for twenty one years. \ Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at Barnett-Strother Funeral Home with Rev. Don McLaughlin officiating; a Masonic Service will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Tuesday. \ Pallbearers will be Ronnie Miller, Jack McCormick, James Woodard, Bruce Wiggins, Jamie Woodruff, Lanny Ashby, Chester Burden, and Danny Ashby. Honorary Pallbearers will be Darrell Collinsworth and all the Shriners at Rizpah. \ Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until service time on Tuesday. \ Memorial donations may be made to the Shriners Children Hospital or First Christian Church Building Fund. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. \