Bernard B. Lewis, Jr., 87, of Shawnee, Oklahoma passed away Sunday, November 26, 2017 at his home.
He was born July 19, 1930 to Bernard Bedford Lewis, Sr. and Quinta Faye (Cannon) Lewis in Mulberry, Arkansas.
Bernard was raised in Mulberry until the age of 13 when his family moved to Oklahoma City and then to Newalla. He spent his high school years in McLoud and graduated from McLoud High School.
Bernard proudly served his country in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged.
He married Helen Marie Guthrie on November 5, 1954 at Wallace Avenue Baptist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Bernard was a commercial building contractor. In 1979 he established Oklahoma Industrial Construction and built his corporate office in Shawnee in 1986 and retired in 2008. He built numerous schools and office in the State of Oklahoma.
He was a member of Wallace Avenue Baptist Church and a member of the Carpenter’s Union.
Bernard enjoyed going to his lake house and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard Lewis Sr. and Quinta Lewis; sister, Regina Gregory; and great-granddaughter, Peyton Sturgill. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 63 years, Helen Lewis of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Jimmy Sturgill of Shawnee, OK; son and daughter-in-law, Johnny and Tina Lewis of Shawnee, OK; 4 grandchildren, Tanner and Amanda Sturgill of Tecumseh, OK, Chris and Angel Etheridge of Lawton, OK, Josh Etheridge of San Antonio, TX and Jon and Morgan Etheridge of Nixa, MO; 8 great-grandchildren, Casen and Dace Sturgill, Adam and Evan Etheridge, Amaris Etheridge, Emma, Abigail and William Etheridge; sister and brother-in-law, Virginia and George Cotton of Carrollton, TX; brother-in-law, Bob Gregory; numerous nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Visitation will be from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 28, 2017 and continue through service time. Family gathering to greet friends and family will be from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at Cooper Funeral Home. Service will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Cooper Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Butch Bradley, Trinity Baptist Church in Maud, OK and Reverend Blake Martin of Wallace Avenue Baptist Church in Shawnee, OK officiating. Committal service will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Resthaven Memorial Park in Shawnee under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.