Elmer Ray Lewis Born: July 9, 1936 in Kosse,Texas, Died: October 21, 2024 in Deer Park, Texas

Elmer Ray Lewis was born the oldest son of Elmer Wilmer Lewis and Annie Lee Ray Lewis. At age 5, his family moved to the Houston area at the beginning of WWII in search of better opportunities. His family joined Allendale Baptist Church where he accepted Christ at the age of nine in a fall revival. Exactly ten years later, he met his future wife Marise during another fall revival. After dating for two and half years, they married on April 3, 1958, in the church where they met. Elmer and Marise enjoyed sixty-six and a half years together.

Elmer proved to be an excellent student and earned the nickname "the brain" from schoolmates. He graduated early from Milby High School in 1954. At the urging of one of his teachers, he attended Rice Institute, known now as Rice University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Upon graduation in 1959, Elmer began his first job at PPG in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In the spring of 1960, Elmer was called to active service in the Army after being commissioned at Rice where he was a member of the ROTC. While Elmer was in Fort Belviour, Virginia, Marise delivered their first child, Judith Elaine, in Houston. After Basic, Elmer completed his army service in San Antonio, Texas and then returned to Corpus Christi where they became active members of Lindale Baptist Church. In 1962, their second daughter Karen Ann was born. Three years later, Elmer had the opportunity to work in Germany for nine weeks and then moved to Augusta Georgia to start a new job at Colombia Nitrogen. In the fall of 1965, Stephen Ray joined the family. Longing to be back in Texas with their families, Elmer took a job with Petro Tex in Hoston, Texas. There he advanced into upper management before retiring in 2001.

His commitment to God, showed through his involvement in church and community. Elmer was ordained as a deacon at the age of 24 and served on the Finance Committee of three churches. He taught Sunday school, training union, Awanas, Vacation Bible School and Bible Drill. He enjoyed singing in the choir and quartets. He rarely missed a service or visitation night. Elmer served on the board for The Bridge Over Troubled Waters and was a trustee for the Deer Park Independent School District.

After retirement, Elmer and Marise traveled extensively in the United States and abroad. They have been to many European countries, Russia, China and the Holy Land. Most trips were with family and friends. While all trips were special, Switzerland and Ireland were two of his favorites. Elmer and Marise can boast that they made it to all 50 United States.

Elmer's love and dedication to his family was evident in everything he did. Typically, you would find Elmer and Marise walking hand in hand, attending all special events involving family members and often find him playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren making funny noises, reading them books, and playing games. If shutting the blinds would make them laugh, he would stand and do it all day.

Elmer is survived by his wife, Grace Marise Darden Lewis; his children; Judith and Richard Shore, Karen and Ted Dalton, Stephen and Tamara Lewis; his grandchildren: Ryan and Joni Shore; Brent and Michelle Shore; Joshua Ray Lewis; Jaimeson and Daniel Kelley; Mylle and Nick Whigham; and Tate and Nick Lipscomb along with his great-grandchildren, Braddock Ray Lewis, Jackson and Blaine Shore, Gibson and Everett Whigham, Winston and Wren Lipscomb, Easton and Holden Kelley; and his brother, Rodger and Barbara Lewis.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund. Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, 4995 FM49, Mineola, TX 75773