Richard Eugene Lewis. age 71, passed away unexpectly May 24, 2020 due
to complications of heart failure and pneumonia. He was born May 4th,
1949 in Jackson, Mississippi to Boyd Henry Lewis and Dorothy McGuirk
Lewis. He married Pati Clarke and raised two wonderful children, Erik
and Robin.

Richard taught English and later Creative Writing until retirement in
2007 from Snowden Middle School in Memphis, Tennessee.  Early in his
life he made the choice to devote his career to teaching inner city
children and partipate in the improvement of their social and
educational opportunities. His entire adult life was devoted to his
passions which included music, art,  nature and public service. After
retirement he selflessly volunteered his time to deliver meals to the
homebound through Meals on Wheels; he read to the blind over the radio
as an announcer for WEVL, and he helped maintain the Botanical Gardens
of Memphis.

His talents were many.  He was an accomplished writer and who was
published in 2010.  He was a talented blues musician who recorded
multiple CDs and an album.  He was inspired by his love of music and
nature with almost 100 paintings, some displayed and sold in local art
galleries. He would say his greatest accomplishment was his student's
education. Each year at the end of the school year, he submitted
poems, prose and lyrics written by his student to a publication called
Reflections.

Richard is survived by his son, Erik Jason Lewis of Lakeland, TN, his
daughter Robin Lewis King of Winter Garden, FL. and 5 grandchildren
Shelby, Josh, Cara, Brooke and Sydney; including siblings Boyd Lewis
of Altadena, CA, Stewart Lewis of Arnold, MD and Kathryn Jensen of
Myrtle Beach, SC.

A visitation will be held at Forest Hill East on March 28th from 2pm
to 4pm.  A memorial service will follow at a later time.  Richard has
requested that any donations be made in his honor to Metropolitan
Inter-Faith Association (MIFA).




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