Obituary of Artie Lewis

Funeral services for Artie Frances "Jack" Lewis, 100, of Hale Center, TX, were held at 2:00 pm Saturday, December 17, 2005, in the First Baptist Church with Rev. Gene Meacham, Rev. Carroll Green and Silas Short officiating. Interment followed in the Parklawn Memorial Park, Plainview, TX, under the direction of Freeman-Abell Funeral Home of Hale Center, TX. Mrs. Lewis died Wednesday December 14, 2005, in Dimmitt, TX. She was born April 29, 1905, in Hill County, TX. She was nicknamed "Jack" by a sister who said she could run faster than a jackrabbit. She attended schools in Florence Hill and Duncanville and married Barnie W. Lewis on October 20, 1923. They moved to Hale Center in 1926 and he preceded her in death April 13, 1976. She had lived in the same house for over 67 years. While her children were growing up she was active in school and parent organizations. A strongly patriotic American, Mrs. Lewis was one of the few women in Hale County who was a World War I veteran's surviving wife. Mrs. Lewis, a member of the First Baptist Church in Hale Center, is widely known for her volunteer work. She served as president of the Hale Center American Legion Auxillary and had helped send girls to Bluebonnet Girls State, a program created by the American Legion Auxillary, since 1968. She continued to support the girls each year despite being legally blind. For the past 18 years, she had made a red, white and blue afghan as a fund-raiser for the American Legion Auxillary in Hale Center's July 4th celebration. She was an active member and former Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star Chapter until it became inactive. She helped organize the Hospital Auxillary in Hale Center during the early 1940's, and was a member until it also became inactive. Mrs. Lewis was a member of the Hale Center Women's Club, the Hale Center Senior Citizens and enjoyed playing bridge during her spare time. She was the recipient of the Hale Center Chamber of Commerce 1993 Citizenship Award, and was named Citizen Through the Years in 2004. She was honored as Pioneer Woman of the Plains in May of 2004 during the annual Pioneer Round Up in Plainview, TX. Mrs. Lewis was an active member of the Hale Center Senior Citizens Center, where she attended five days a week. The Lewis family consists of three children, Bob Lewis and his wife Ann of Fairfax, VA, Nina Landers and her husband Bob of Muleshoe, TX and Barbara Bain and her husband Ray of Dimmitt, TX, 5 grandchildren, Billy Landers and wife JoAnn of Corsicana, TX, Nancy Seybert and husband Jim of Perryton, TX, Mark Bain and wife Heather of Lubbock, TX, Mike Bain and wife Cindy of Canyon, TX, John Rothrock of Mobile, Alabama, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great great granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Barnie Lewis, and 2 granddaughters, Kristy Landers and Kathy Landers Bostick. The family suggests memorials be sent to Hale Center Senior Citizens, P. O. Box 205, Hale Center, TX 79041, or to the First Baptist Church, Box 396, Hale Center, TX 79041 or to a favorite charity. Abell Funeral Home