Nora Marie Lewis

Nora Marie Lewis was born on the 4th of July in a log cabin in the Big Horn Mountains east of Ten Sleep, Wyo., to Guy and Effie Alexander and was delivered by her Dad and older sisters.  Her grandparents were Bert and Mabel Arnold and Milton and Myra Alexander.  She was married to Jerry Roy Lewis for 58 years.

Nora was truly one of a kind and a special gift to those who were blessed to know her.  She saw all of the bright and joyful things in the world and she projected this view on everyone around her through her jovial personality, the flamboyant clothes she wore, in her original paintings on the walls of her home or in the many beautiful baskets of flowers she enjoyed on her deck every summer.  She saw the best in people and would go out of her way to help someone especially those she saw who were struggling.  Looking for the best in every situation and always looking for quick easy solutions to problems defined who she was.  She delighted in spending countless hours with her grandkids and great grandkids doing different art and building projects and always had something special and fun planned for them.  They will remember her as a card shark when it came to playing cards, especially “Old Maid.”

Her life was nothing short of extraordinary.  She was born on the Fourth of July and that fit her personality perfectly as she enjoyed celebrating it on the mountains with a picnic or watching fireworks.   She loved spending her time entering numerous contests whether they were writing or baking.    Her family was named the All-American Family in 1960, she won the distinction of being Mrs. Wyoming in 1965, Lady Stetson’s Extraordinary American Woman from Wyoming in 1987, Revlon’s Unforgettable Wyoming Woman in 1994 and she was especially honored to be chosen to be Wyoming’s representative in the “Photo of the Century” celebration and parade in Philadelphia in 1999 for those around the country who were born on the Fourth of July.  She entered many Pillsbury Bake-off contests and her kitchen was her happy place where she spent time testing out her new recipes on the family.   Many farmers, ropers, grandkids and their friends as well as family enjoyed her many homecooked meals and no one ever left the table hungry.  She was especially known for her homemade dinner rolls, her thick homemade noodles, deviled eggs, pinwheel or toadstool cookies and especially her chocolate ice cream roll.   She was very proud of producing a cookbook of all her recipes for her family and others to enjoy.   She was “Gramma Nora” to more than just her own grandkids and great grandkids as she enjoyed many years following the Riverside Rebels sports events and was a proud Rebel fan.

She truly lived a life representing her faith in the Christian Science.  She was a lifetime member of the First Church of Christ Scientist and the Christian Science Society in Greybull.  Positive thinking and the teachings she learned throughout a lifetime of studying Christian Science paved her way of living and she loved to pass these teachings onto others.  Advice and guidance came quickly from her as she was always reading the Bible.  Her most accomplished writing came when she finished her book “A Walk Through the Bible” which took her nine years to complete.

She is survived by her two sons Monte Guy (Deborah) and Kevin Roy (Renee) Lewis, both of Basin; grandsons Casey (Judy) of Basin; Brady (Emily) of Dayton; Dusty (Beth) of Thermopolis and greatgrandchildren Avery, Ridge, McKinsey, Bridger, Brooklyn, Easton, Fischer, Fletcher and Foster Lewis; one sister, Laverna Kestner, as well as several nieces and nephews.

As per her request, there will be no memorial service or donations.

Memories and condolences can be shared with Nora’s family on her memory page at www.BallardFH.com.