Edward M. Lewis

EDWARD M. LEWIS, age 71, of East Syracuse, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 14, 2006, at the Francis House after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Born and raised in Summerhill, NY, he was the loving son of the late Edward Miller Lewis, Sr. and Margaret McKay Lewis. He was a graduate of Groton Central School, Groton, NY, and Roosevelt University, Chicago.

Following high school, Ed served in the Army for two years. He was employed by Smith-Corona Corporation for over 28 years. In the late 70's, he was appointed Managing Director of an SCM typewriter facility in Singapore, where he and his family enjoyed living for two years. He returned to Cortland as General Manager of all typewriter facilities in the Cortland area.

Ed traveled extensively in Europe and the Far East on behalf of SCM Corporation, New Canaan, CT, GTE Corporation, Stamford, CT, and Technology Applications, Ltd., Thailand.

He served on Cortland Memorial Hospital's Board of Directors, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Murray Center for the Handicapped, Cortland, NY, and on the Board of Directors of the Elim Park Baptist Home, Cheshire, CT.

Ed's greatest joy was in serving the Lord in his local church. He was on the Board of Trustees at Memorial Baptist Church, Cortland, NY, and Church Chairman and Deacon Board Chairman at Trinity Baptist Church, Fairfield, CT. In recent years, he attended Grace Christian Fellowship.

Ed enjoyed eight years of retirement on Cayuga Lake before moving to East Syracuse in July 2005.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Beverly (Heffron) Lewis of E. Syracuse; two daughters, Shari (James) Freyer of Manlius, NY, and Karen (Alan) Hutchinson of Chicago; four beloved grandchildren, Samantha, Christie and Paige Freyer, and Benjamin Edward Hutchinson; brother, John (Nita) Lewis of Zephyrhills, FL; three sisters, Lois (Robert) Geesey of Zephyrhills, Betty Russell of Zephyrhills, and Alice (Richard) Cody of Groton, NY; mother-in-law, Grace Heffron of Lady Lake, FL; sister and brother-in-law, Karen and James Fowler of Lady Lake, FL; several loving nieces and nephews; and many friends, neighbors and associates. He was loved and admired by all who knew him.

Arrangements are being made by Perkins Funeral Home, Dryden, NY. Calling hours will be on Thursday, May 18, at Grace Christian Fellowship, 1250 Fisher Ave., Cortland, NY 13045, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Funeral immediately following. Burial will be private on Friday in Virgil Cemetery.

The family requests that contributions in Ed's memory may be made to Francis House, 108 Michaels St., Syracuse, NY 13208, or to Hospice of Central New York, 990 7th North St., Liverpool, NY 13088, or to the Alzheimer's Assoc., 441 W. Kirkpatrick St., Syracuse, NY 13204.