Marshall County, OK - Obit - Fitzhugh Lee Lewis http://files.usgwarchives.net/ok/marshall/obituary/l2000001.txt --------------------------------- Copyright © 2000 by Ella Brown ellabbrown@email.msn.com This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. --------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Source: Madill Record 1977 ------------------------------------------------------------------ FITZHUGH LEWIS, 79, DIES MONDAY Madill Record 1977 Fitzhugh Lee Lewis, early-day businessman, rancher and long recognized for his knowledge of Marshall County and area history, died Monday morning. His death followed an extended period of ill health. He had entered the hospital two weeks ago and was seriously ill about two months. Funeral services for Mr. Lewis were conducted Wednesday afternoon from the First Presbyterian Church where he was a longtime member and active in the church leadership. Rev.Tom Arney officiated. Judy Bounds Coleman was soloist with JoAnn Robertson as organist. Burial was in Woodberry Forest Cemetery. Services arrangements were under the direction of Watts Funeral Home. Mr. Lewis' family has been closely linked with Marshall County and this region since the 1800’s when his late grandfather, Wells Lewis, came to Colbert, I.T. He married into a Chickasaw family named Love, prominent in the region at that time. Mr. Lewis later moved to Fort Washita where a son, I.O. Lewis, the father of Fitzhugh, was born. The father grew up in this area, later becoming well known as a lawyer and judge. He held numerous positions in the Chickasaw nation. The father moved to Oakland in 1888. It was there Mr. Lewis was born March 15, 1898. His father was prominent in local business, owning a hotel and livery stable during this early community growth. While it was not well known, Mr. Lewis’ full name was General Fitzhugh Lee Lewis. How the military title became part of his name was among his repertoire of stories. When he was born, Mr. Lewis’ father advised a recorder of births his son was to name after General Fitzhugh Lee. The information was taken literally, and the name was entered into official records with General as the given name. Mr. Lewis attended Madill schools, graduating in 1917. He was member of the 1916-state championship football team. Following high school he was engaged in business, operating a feed store, later an implement business and his later years engaged primarily in ranching. He and Miss Vera M. Moran were married Sept. 29,1919 in Oklahoma City. She preceded him in death on Dec. 27, 1971. He also served several years on the Marshall County Excise Board. Mr. Lewis was honored only recently by the Marshall County Historical Society as one of three persons cited by the society for outstanding contribution to county history. His survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Sarah Ann Shaw, of Madill; two grandsons, Thomas Shaw, Jr., of Tishomingo and Lewis Shaw, and two sisters, Alta Wyrick of Atoka and Madill Merritt of Oklahoma City. Casket escorts for services and interment were Joe Forbes, Raymond Gary, Robert Hood, Warren Jones, Tommie Lee Scott and J.L. Woody. Honorary escorts were Myrl Adamson, James Howell, Tom Parrish, Dick Phillips and Robert Watts.