John D. Lewis Jr.

John D. Lewis Jr.

Longtime Valley resident John D. “J.D.” Lewis Jr., died, Oct. 27, 2010, at his home in Palmer.

A native of Huntsville, Ala., J.D. was born March 29, 1937, the son of John Dee and Geneva (Newsome) Lewis. He attended the University of Alabama, which fueled his lifelong love of the Crimson Tide football program.

J.D. served his country in the United States Army from 1954-57. While serving in the military, special arrangements were made and he married Patricia May Berger via telephone from Japan.

In 1975, the family moved to Alaska, where J.D. lived and worked in Fairbanks and Anchorage, later calling Wasilla and finally Palmer home. He was employed in the petroleum industry; first for the Fluor Corp., later for BP and Halliburton, where he served as safety manager, working throughout the world including Venezuela, Africa, Iran, Malaysia and Iraq. He retired in 2006 from the oil field industry to enjoy life.

J.D. had a passion for the lives of others. He received many safety awards and sporting trophies as a Golden Glove boxer in Huntsville. He loved the time he spent with his family, watching sports, hunting and fishing.

The family wrote, “J.D. was a storyteller. He loved to tell stories about family, friends, their events and special times together. He was an adventurer of life and fought his greatest battle to victory.”

In addition to his wife Patricia of the family home, he is survived by his son Donnie Lewis and his wife Brenda, of Palmer; their children Kaile Lewis, Cord Lewis and Dalton Lewis, all of Palmer; Nicole Lewis of Bellingham, Wash.; his daughter, Deborah Lewis-Deonigi and her husband Ken of Seattle, Wash.; their children Derek Deonigi, Danielle Deonigi and Mackenzie Deonigi, all of Seattle, Wash.; his mother, Geneva Lewis-Brewer of Huntsville, Alaba.; three sisters, Sharon Richey of Tampa, Fla.; Joan Lewis-Osborn of Columbiana, Ala.; Sue Lewis-Hand of Auburn, Ala.; two brothers, Jerry Lewis and Dale Lewis, both of Columbiana, Ala.; his cousin, Jack Shelton of Panama City Beach, Fla., and many, many relatives in Alabama and Florida.

He was preceded in death by his father, John D. Lewis Sr. and his wife, Lois Lewis; sister, Darlene Wright; uncle and aunt, Howard and Lena Shelton.

Graveside services were Saturday, Oct. 30, at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery. A celebration of his life is planned on his birthday, March 29, 2011, in Columbiana, Ala.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Valley Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.