James Clifton Lewis ... Age 84

Visitation 6-8 pm Friday, September 22, 2017 at Eddy-Birchard Chapel
Graveside Service 10:30 am Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Osawatomie Cemetery with Military Honors
Memorials to American Legion Riders Post 156
may be sent c/o:
Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home
P.O. Box 430
Osawatomie, KS 66064
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James Clifton Lewis age 84 of Paola, KS died Monday September 18, 2017 at his home.

James was born December 29, 1932 in Bruno, AR. He was the 7 ^th of 9 children born to Marion Francis & Minnie Magnolia (Sullivan) Lewis. He grew up in Arkansas and attended school in Western Grove, AR. After school, James went to work logging and farming.

Until September 30, 1952 when he enlisted into the United States Army. He was active during the Korean War. James was part of the group that did the prisoner exchange and was on the front line. He guarded the POW’s. After four years of active duty, he was a reserve for four more years until being honorably discharged on August 31, 1960.

He went back to logging and farming and moved to western Kansas. Then on December 28, 1962 James and Frances Faye Sams were united in marriage in Pindall, Arkansas. They moved to DeSoto, KS where they made their home. Together the couple had four children Randy, Jimmy, Cheryl and Kevin. The family lived in DeSoto for 13 years and then moved to their home in Paola.

While the family was in DeSoto James started working as a greens keeper and head maintenance man for the Brookridge and Tomahawk Country Clubs. He then decided to start a new career and became a member of the Local 1290 Laborer’s Union. He was a part of many big projects over the years. He helped build Hillsdale Lake, installed seats in the Kaufmann and Chief’s stadiums, and was part of the building of Metcalf mall and Bartle Hall. James worked for a while at the power plant in LaCygne. His last job before retiring from construction was the four lane expansion on highway 169 from Spring Hill to Olathe.   James took a little while off but decided to go back to work, starting with Smith and Loveless as a pipefitter. He was worked for nine more years until fully retiring in 1995.

James was an avid coon hunter and fisherman. Over the years he planted many vegetables in his ever growing garden. When the kids were younger he would recruit them to help plant, tend to and eventually harvest the produce. James was a family man. He loved spending time with his family and would attend all of the family reunions. He was a member of the National Kennel Club and the NRA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, nine sibling and granddaughter Jessica Savely.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years Frances of the home, three sons Randy (Carol) Lewis of Osage City, KS, Jimmy Lewis of Osawatomie, KS and Kevin Lewis of Fontana, KS and one daughter Cheryl (Max) Renner of Wilburton, OK, Eight grandchildren Clifton, Nick, Cameron, Brandon, Richard, Amber, Deanna, Taylor, and Jessica, and seven great grandchildren. Along with other family and friends.