Dean Lewis

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Willie Dean Lewis, beloved wife of Roy and mother of 6 children. Dean passed away after a prolonged illness on March 13, 2026, at the age of 91, surrounded by her loving family in her home in Milano, Texas.

Willie Dean "Dean" Moore Lewis was born on November 5, 1933, to Lee William and Mary Lenora (Thorpe) Moore in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. She was the 8th of 12 children born to William and Mary. She was placed with cousins for a short time due to her Mama's illness when Dean was born.

As soon as her mom was well enough, she took Dean back home. It was long after that they made the move to Camp Creek in New Baden, Texas where they lived as a cotton farming family. She helped work picking cotton until she was in the 8th grade. This was the last grade she completed in school. Dean was baptized in Franklin, Texas by Rev. "Blackie" in 1958.

Dean married Earl Edgar Lewis on January 28, 1948, and had 3 children by this marriage: Gloria Mae, Nora Constance "Connie" and Thomas Earl "Tommy". They divorced in November of 1966. She then married Roy Lewis on May 26, 1967. They had 3 children by this marriage: Lisa Annette, Lillie Janelle and Alana Gale.

She had a full life with many roles including wife, mama, granny, great-granny and great, great-granny; aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews and she had many, many cousins.

She worked outside the home briefly while living in Encinitas, CA in the early 1950's. She worked as an electronic assembler for Electro Instruments in San Diego and then Palamar Instruments in Palamar, CA where she soldered the pure gold wiring that would be used on the first space craft to go up into space. She moved back to Texas after her mom died in 1958 (confirm this date). Dean lived in many places in Texas after moving back including Franklin, Caldwell, Bryan, Chriesman, Rockdale, Cameron, Taylor and finally in Milano the last years of her life. During many of their years together, Roy and Dean built homes in the Caldwell and Chriesman area with Dean serving many roles helping Roy out.

Dean is survived by 4 children, 14 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Roy, her daughter Connie, her son Tommy and all of her siblings.