John Lewis

John V. Lewis, 86 Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, might have been the day the music died for the family of John V. Lewis – if he hadn’t long ago instilled it into the hearts of each and every member. Although the Seminole musician died Monday at the age of 86, from time to time his children, their children and grandchildren will feel a little music in their souls and know where it came from. John was born Sept. 29, 1928, in Yell County, Ark., and started teaching himself music almost immediately. “He could play anything,” his son said. Harmonica, guitar, piano, fiddle, banjo and later electric keyboard, all surrendered to John’s talent. He loved music, God and family with all his soul, and took his children to church every time the doors were open – for every meeting, every service, every revival, every gospel singing. John never made a living with his music; in fact, his children remember him paying for airtime at KWSH when they were a young, struggling family, so he could share the gospel music he loved with those within the air waves of Seminole County. He started every program with the song, “This Little Light of Mine” and he let his light shine as God had bidden him to. To support himself and his family, John had been a mule skinner, moving logs with a mule team, and later a sharecropper in Yell County. He married Wilma Ross on Oct. 26, 1948. Together they came to Seminole County in 1953 to better his employment opportunities. With their two little daughters, Barbara four and Anna, one month old, the family lived in the gas station south of Seminole that John managed. After a couple of years, John went to work at Independent Tank, learning the art of welding. Later he worked for Frac Tanks, Inc., which became the Terry Co.  Sons Ricky and John M. Lewis joined the family, and they followed the oilfield to Enid, Hennessey and Drumright before returning to Seminole in 1968. John worked for Wills Concrete, D&B Garage, then opened his own welding shop and truck repair, which he ran until his retirement in 1992 when Wilma became ill. He took care of Wilma until her death. If he wasn’t home sleeping he was at the nursing home taking care of her. John encouraged his family in their musical endeavors and they played together and with friends in the garage, the living room, outdoors under the stars. “The neighbors either hated us or loved us,” John’s son said. After his retirement, John toured area nursing homes, loading speakers, microphones, keyboard and hand-scrawled gospel music into his old Thunderbird to share his love of music and the Lord. It was clear to anyone who met him that his love for his family was equal to his love of music and God; a quiet smile lit his face whenever he talked about them or shared a new photo. “Do you KNOW how much God loves you?” he asked each one, often. He was a member of the Lighthouse Tabernacle at the time of his death. As he grew older, long after the death of his wife, Wilma, in September, 1994, and children, Anna and Ricky, he began to suffer from memory loss, but even then his family was the most vital part of his life. John’s family helped to keep him in his home as long as possible, which was important to him and to them. He entered Seminole Care and Rehabilitation in June 2014, one of the nursing homes where he had played his music for so many years, and died there Monday. Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at Swearingen Funeral Chapel. Family will receive guests Saturday morning 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Jeff Nance, pastor of Temple of Praise, will officiate. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Shawnee. He is preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Newton and Moarnin Emily (Loudermilk) Lewis; a baby daughter, Linda, who died back in Yell County; his wife; and two grown children, Anna and Ricky; two grandchildren, Stephen Hill and Brandon Hail; three brothers, William Broyles, Sylvester Howard and Jones Lewis; and four sisters, Margaret Ross, Bell Heath, Florence McDonald and Dollie May Lewis. Pallbearers will be Billy Hill Jr., Shannon Lewis, Booth Scates, Donald Emmitt, Zane Feken and Mike White. He leaves to cherish his memory one son and daughter-in-law, John M. and Laurie Lewis of Bowlegs; one daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and James Hail of Hennessey; six grandchildren, Tonya Scates, Billy Hill Jr., Charity Wright, Elizabeth Hile, Jeff Lewis, and Shannon Lewis; 14 great-grandchildren Booth Scates III, Karson Scates, Brice Hill, Blake Hill, Brock Hill, Chase Mullins, Carys Mullins, Conner Hile, Caleb Hile, Jacob Lewis, Abigail Lewis, Jordan Lewis, Kalee Lewis and Payton Lewis; two great-great-grandchildren, Paislee Hill and Chesnee Hill; special caregiver Rose Rosamond; as well as many dear nephews, nieces and other family, friends; and all who love gospel as he did.   Funeral Information: January 24, 2015, 1:00 PM Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel located at 1001 N. Milt Phillips, Seminole, OK 74868