Obituary of Stephen Ray Lewis
Stephen (Steve) Ray Lewis, 69, died December 24, 2021 at Meridian Park hospital, in Tualatin, OR from a heart attack. He was born, August 5, 1952, in Hutchinson, Kansas to The Reverend Vern H. and Betty J. Buchan Lewis. The family moved to Hood River, Oregon where Steve attended grade school and a portion of his high school years. He graduated from Klamath Union High School in 1970 and Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA in 1974.
A talented musician, he played the piano, sang in a trio group with his brothers, David and Mark, and participated in his college and church choirs. He was a part of the college choir that toured East Asia-- Japan, the Philippines, Korea, and Hong Kong. A fond memory from the tour that he enjoyed telling was stepping on an elevator and having a person look up to him standing six foot four inches and saying, “Seven-footer, basketball player.”
His work career began as a Special Education Instructor in 1974 in the Portland, Oregon Public School system, He became a Special Education Area Supervisor and transferred to the Salem Keizer, Oregon School district in 1992. He retired in 2008.
Steve devoted much of his time and talent to community services and activities. He was an active member in Metropolitan Community Church Portland, a prior church board of directors; a prior member of Garten Services, Salem, OR, board of directors; and volunteered 30-plus years at Portland Center for the Performing Arts, Portland, OR.
He and Charles met in 1989 and both loved to travel. After retiring, he and Charles, did a 10-day cruise from Florida to Barcelona, Spain with stops in Portugal and costal Spanish cities. A 2010 road trip across the USA with stops in Jackson Hole, WY; Teton and Yellowstone national parks, The Little Big Horn, MT; Chief Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore monuments; Chicago, IL and Upper Peninsula Michigan. In 2018, Steve and Charles did a 2-month trip that stated with a 25-day cruise from Vancouver, Canada to Sydney, Australia with stops in Hawaii, Samoa Guam, and Fiji. After the cruise, we did air traveling and sightseeing in Australia, and New Zealand. Most impressive was seeing the museums, gardens. The museums had displays which celebrated 100-years of Australia and New Zealand’s participation in the war.
Steve’s mother, father, and a sister (Gayle) predeceased him. He is survived by his Life Partner, Charles C. Donald, brothers David P. (Linda), and Mark (Jill Chancellor) Lewis, niece, Nicole Lewis, and nephews, Justin, Jared, and Matthew Lewis, two great nieces, and many extended family members, and close friends.
In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation in Steve’s name to Metropolitan Community Church of Portland, OR or Garten Services, Salem OR.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 PM on January 8, 2022, at Metropolitan Community Church, Portland, 2828 SE Stephens Street, Portland, Oregon. Go to MCC Portland to connect to stream the service through Facebook or You Tube Tv. We ask that all service attendees to comply with The State’s Covid guidelines. Services provided by Crown Memorial Services, Portland.
Crown Memorial Centers specialize in Oregon Funeral, Burial, Cremation, Memorial Planning, Services and Arrangements
Serving Portland and Metropolitan communities including: Aloha, Aurora, Beavercreek, Beaverton, Boring, Canby, Clackamas, Donald, Downtown Portland, Eagle Creek, Estacada, Gladstone, Gresham, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Hubbard, King City, Lake Oswego, McMinnville, Milwaukie, Molalla, Mt. Angel, Mulino, Newberg, Oregon City, Sandy, Sherwood, Silverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Vancouver WA, West Linn, Wilsonville and Woodburn.
In Salem and surrounding communities of: Albany, Brooks, Corvallis, Dallas, Detroit, Gervais, Independence, Jefferson, Keizer, Lebanon, Mill City, Monmouth, Scio, Stayton, Sublimity and Sweet Home.
