Bernice Jane Lewis

Bernice Jane (Marshall) Lewis   (Age 93)                                     Bernie was called home to heaven on May 24, 2018, one day after her 93rd birthday,   and is  now reunited with her husband, daughter and all of her beloved family that went before her. Bernie was born on a farm in the Union Flat area of Pullman on 5-23-25 to loving parents George Albert and Jane Boone Marshall. When she was 2 years old, her parents bought their own farm just a few miles from Bernie’s grandparents, Daniel Wright and Amelia Fernanders Boone, who homesteaded in the area in 1889. She grew up with a very large extended family consisting of many first cousins with whom she shared adventures.  Bernie and her sister Maxine attended the old Beauridell school which required them to ride a horse to school.  In the winter, George would hook the sled up to their horse and take them to school.  She attended Pullman High School, graduating in May, 1942 at the age of 17.  A month later, she married the love of her life, Melvin Richard Lewis.   They were married nearly 65 years at the time of his death.  Melvin was drafted by the Army in 1942 and served three years in the Army Air Corps.  Bernie followed him to his many assignments when she could.  In April, 1944, her first child, Sharon Jeanette Lewis was born in Colfax, WA.  In October, 1947, her second daughter, Gloria Jean Lewis, was born, also in Colfax. In January 1952, her son Richard Scott Lewis was born in Pullman, WA and shortly after that, the family moved to Spokane where Melvin began his career working for Carnation Dairy and then Darigold.  Bernie was an immaculate housekeeper and an excellent cook and baker.  She sewed a lot of the girls’ clothes and many doll clothes as well as crocheted many afghans, doilies, bedspreads, and tablecloths.  She was a perfectionist in all she did.  She loved her family more than anything and always put her kids before herself. She is predeceased by her husband Melvin, her daughter Sharon and her sister Maxine Shrope.  She is survived by her children Richard (Chris) Lewis and Gloria Lewis, both of Spokane, WA and her son-in-law Edward Takeda also of Spokane. She is also survived by her  eight grandchildren Sydne Phelps and Zachary Phelps, both of Seattle, WA and Shawn Phelps (Tiffany) of Wilbur, WA, Mike Pankey (Kelly) of Spokane, WA and Megan Pankey of Corvallis, OR, Fr. Jeffrey R Lewis of Spokane, Justin M Lewis (Charlotte) of Maple Valley WA and Joshua M Lewis (Allison) of Issaquah.  She also leaves behind her  step-granddaughters Leslie (Ken) Kay and their children Courtney and Brandon, and Nicole (Jeff) Leslie and their children Christopher, Madeline and Matthew. Seven great-grandchildren also survive her, Madison  and Bronson Pankey of Spokane,  Jace Phelps of Wilbur, WA, Isaac and Amelia Lewis of Maple Valley, WA, and Colton and Evelyn Lewis of Issaquah.  Also surviving her are her remaining cousins, Helen Meyer of Hayden, ID, Ellen (Johnny) Brewer of Pullman, Bob Marshall of Olympia and Marilyn McFarland of Seattle and many nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by everyone in her family.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any animal shelter you choose. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sunset Chapel, Fairmount Memorial Park Cemetery, Spokane, WA.