Leroy Lewis

Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, April 10, at First United Methodist Church for Byrd Leroy Lewis of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Lewis, 94, died on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 in Big Spring, Texas.

Monty Leavell will officiate at the services with burial to follow at Woodbine Cemetery. A special reading will be by nephew Galen Requist.
Pallbearers will be Jonathan Knight, Lance White, Niall Requist, Ronnie Null, Peyton Yates and Tommy Scroggin.

Visitation will be at Terpening & Son Mortuary from 2 p.m to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Leroy was born on November 17, 1922 in Hollis, Oklahoma; the son of Lee Harvey Lewis and Sybil Susan Byrd Lewis.

He was married to Lovetta Morene Sharry on May 30, 1947 in Colony, Oklahoma. They moved to Artesia in 1959 from Oklahoma.

Mr. Lewis served in the army for three years during World War II in the European Theater of Operations. He served in Patton's 3rd Army and was wounded in action, receiving a Purple Heart. Later, he attended Southwestern State University at Weatherford, Oklahoma, where he completed both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a Master of Teaching Degree. While teaching high school mathematics and biology classes in the Artesia Public Schools, he completed a Master of Science Degree from Highlands University at Las Vegas, New Mexico. Later, he did post graduate work at Eastern New Mexico University at Portales, New Mexico. In 1986, he retired from teaching. He and his wife Lovetta continued to live in Artesia playing golf, playing Bridge, and traveling until her death on July 17, 2012. He was also a member of the First United Methodist church, Methodist Men, N.M. Retired Teachers Association and the American Legion, and authored a book about his experiences during the war titled "Memories of My Experiences as an Artillery Soldier During World War II.".

Survivors include his daughters Dana White of Midland, Texas and Sharry Knight of Artesia; a sister Colleen Requist of Denver, Colorado; grandsons Jonathan Knight and Lance White; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation

Terpening Son Mortuary
611 W. Grand Ave.
Artesia, NM  88210
Sunday, April 9, 2017
2:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Service

First United Methodist Church
500 W. Grand Ave.
Artesia, NM  88210
Monday, April 10, 2017
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Woodbine Cemetery
200 E. Hermosa Drive
Artesia, NM  88210