Julie Ann Lewis

Julie Ann Lewis. 

What was in a name and in a life?

Julie is derived from the Latin name Julia associated with qualities such as youthfulness, beauty, and vivacity. It is associated with a person who is gentle, kind-hearted and a strong sense of loyalty. Ann is a derivative of the Hebrew name Hannah meaning “grace” or “favor” 

Her name fit her life.

Julie was born June 27, 1958, to Irvin H. Lewis, Jr. (aka “Jr.”) and Rosa Nell Squire Lewis (aka “Nell”). She was “normal” until her second 3-in-1 vaccine that caused high fevers for days and seizures. Though she was now a “special needs” child, her job in life was just beginning.

 Julie never met a stranger and would give a hug and “I like you” to every person she met. She ended up being an ambassador of love and joy for Jesus the rest of her life. Some of her favorite things to say were, “just and just like that” (we often thought she was talking about Jesus’s second coming); “you know what? I like you”; and “Jesus is my friend”. (He undoubtedly was and still is.”)

 Julie’s parents Jr. and Nell proceeded her in death. The family is pretty sure that God’s left ear (Jesus is seated at the right hand of God) is sore from them advocating for Julie to come home to heaven. (God probably said, “Give me half a second, would you?) And in his timing less than 2 years later, she arrived to be greeted by a great welcoming committee. 

Julie is survived by her brother Charles and sister Jeri. The family grew to include Rod (Jeri’s husband), Denise (Charles’s wife), and 5 ornery and very protective of Aunt Julie nephews: Casey Grove, Ryan Lewis, Jesse Grove, CJ Lewis, and Jerod Grove. Her influence went on to affect them and their families. We all often say and do things that Julie did, that other folks did not understand (and we don’t care. 😊 for that is part of Julie in our lives). 

The nephews went on to bring other family members to her clan Casey and son Gunner; Ryan and Candace and daughters Savannah and Addison; Jesse and Nicole and sons JJ and Gage; CJ and Kinsey and son Alister and daughter Wakely; and Jerod and Sharon and son Ryker, and daughters Brylie and Peyton. All who survive and will miss her. She also influenced many other family members Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. 

Many other people outside the family were touched by Julie. Julie was never thought of as someone to hide away (as one Dr. told her parents when she was a baby). She went everywhere with the family, to ballgames, church, on vacations, as well as into the community. She influenced friends and classmates of Charles and Jeri, friends and classmates of her nephews, her church families, people in stores, just about everyone who encountered her. If anyone made fun of her or treated her poorly, it made an immediate enemy of the family, but Julie loved them just the same. God’s grace shined through just as her name Ann would indicate. 

When we talk about her vivaciousness, she survived not only the vaccine issue, but ruptured appendix (1976), subdural hematoma (2013), breast cancer (2017) and multiple broken bones including 2 fractured hips from falls during her seizures. She was a definitely a fighter with a will to live and rarely ever complained about pain. When she did, you knew it was real. 

Julie loved presents and everyone in the family will never forget her birthdate because she would tell you all year around. So, whether birthday or Christmas when you ask her what she wanted she would answer “packages”. You had to ask what she wanted in the package to give hints to her desires (often ties or Money would be included on the list.) 

Music was another favorite of Julie’s. She had radios, record players, and eventually iPhones to play her favorite music which she would grin and pat her leg to the beat. Some of her favorite songs included: What A Friend We Have In Jesus; The Lord’s Prayer (which she called “Our Father”) and probably her all-time favorite was “No Tears In Heaven” by Tennessee Ernie Ford. 

There’s absolutely no doubt that Julie has no tears now. For she is now in Heaven with Jesus, Mom, Dad, and host of other saints. Though our tears are for the loving person who modeled Jesus to so many, not one of us would want to take her from the words that she no doubt heard on her arrival “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”

Graveside Services will be held Monday, November 4, 2024 at 10 AM MST in Syracuse, Kansas.