James (Sonny) Lewis,

JAMES EDWARD (SONNY) LEWIS, SR., 81, passed away Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at his home in Houston, Texas with his children attending. Mr. Lewis was born in 1926 in Tyler, Texas to Lucille and E.A. (Son) Lewis. He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Cox Lewis, also originally from Tyler. He is survived by his son, James E. Lewis, Jr. and daughter and son-in-law, Lynn Lewis and James N. Young, all of Houston. Also, his brother, Kenneth Lewis and wife, Patsy, of Tyler and nephew, Larry Lewis and his wife, Rhonda and their children, Luke and Abby, of Scurry, Texas; his sister, Emogene Tompkins and husband, Billy; niece, Tonya, her son, Colby; nephew, Ty and his wife, Belinda, of Chandler, Texas; his sister-in-law, Diane Cox Martin of Tyler and numerous extended family members. James Lewis graduated from Tyler High School in 1943 where he played varsity football. He earned an athletic scholarship to Louisiana Stat University where he majored in animal husbandry and played varsity football including playing in the Orange Bowl in 1944 and the Cotton Bowl Classic in 1947 also known as the "Ice Bowl." Mr. Lewis is a veteran of WWII having served in the Navy in the Philippines after which he completed his degree at LSU. Mr. Lewis worked for the Production Credit Association in Tyler and Marshall before advancing to the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank of Houston. His service to the farming and ranching community evolved with the bank as it became the Farm Credit Banks of Texas in Austin. After retirement he returned to his home in Houston. The family will receive guests at a visitation at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home in Houston from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Thursday, May 8, 2008. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler, Texas with burial following at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler. Visitation is scheduled for 10 a.m. one hour prior to the service at Stewart Family Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be M.L. "Bo" McLaughlin, Raymond Maner, Vernon Whyte, Jim Wilkinson, Jim Young, and Larry Lewis. For those desiring, family suggests donations to: The Athletic Scholarship Fund, Louisiana State University, P.O. Box 711, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821.

James (Sonny) Lewis,

May 29, 1926 - May 6, 2008