Clarence Edgar Lewis, 100, of Augusta, KS, peacefully went to be with the Lord on Sat. morning, Aug. 2, 2008, at the South Wind Hospice House, Pratt, KS. He was born on Feb. 25, 1908, in Mullinville, KS, to Charles Edgar and Dolly Price Lewis. He graduated from Mullinville High School. Clarence married Elaine Garnet Ely on Oct. 8, 1933; together, they raised three sons in Minneola, KS. Elaine preceded him in death on Sept. 15, 1983, three weeks shy of their 50th anniversary.
Clarence became a Christian on Sept. 7, 1927; he was a member of the Minneola United Methodist Church and later the Greensburg United Methodist Church. A lifelong farmer, he has been on the board of numerous organizations, including Kiowa County Health Foundation, CMS Rural Electric Board (charter member), Friends Bible College (now Barclay College, Haviland, KS), Minneola School Board, and Minneola Methodist Church Official Board. He was named Southwest Kansas Farmer of the year. He invested his farming knowledge in four foreign exchange students. Clarence loved his family and friends; enjoyed spending time with them and encouraging them to love and serve Jesus Christ.
Clarence married Forrest Lee Einsel on July 14, 1985, in her home in Greensburg, KS. They were evacuated to Augusta, KS, in May 2007, after a tornado destroyed the town. They moved back to Greensburg in early July 2008.
He is survived by wife Forrest Lee; three sons: Elvin Duane and wife Evelyn (St. Louis, MO), Carlin Gale and wife Janice (Summerville, SC), Stanley Ralph and wife Carolyn (Marion, IN); eight grandchildren: Cheryl Butler (St. Louis, MO), Diana Horman (Linn Creek, MO), Marc Lewis (O’Fallon, IL), Monica Lewis (Tulsa, OK), Jeff Lewis (Elizabeth, CO), Katherine Lewis (New York, NY), Stephen Lewis (Muncie, IN), Christina Van Order (Holland, MI); fifteen great-grandchildren: Shawn Havey, Bridget Fischer, Kyle Havey, Lorri Leong, Taylor Leong, Joshua Horman, Aaron Horman, Jared Horman, Adam Horman, Carly Lewis, Whitley Lewis, Sara Van Order, Carter Van Order, Brandon Van Order, Joshua Van Order; two great-great-grandsons: Cody Rodriguez and Tristan Havey; and many nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dolly Price Lewis (Dec. 2, 1936) and Charles Edgar Lewis (Jan. 6, 1961), and siblings, Charlie William (Sept. 30, 1936), Elmer Leslie (Sept. 17, 1995), and Mary Marie (Oct. 23, 1983).
A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wed., Aug. 6, 2008, at the Mullinville United Methodist Church. Visitation will be at the church, on Tues., 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Internment will be at Mullinville, KS. Arrangements are under the direction of Fleener Funeral Home of Greensburg. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made in his memory to the Salvation Army, 350 North Market, Wichita, KS 67202.
Greensburg, KS —
