Dorothy Pauline Lewis of Monticello, 86, departed this earth to be united with her Savior on April 16, 2013. Dorothy was born in Elkland, Missouri to Ranzy E. and Lessie Jones Richerson. She graduated high school in Elkland, attended secretarial school in St. Louis, Missouri, met and married Paul R. Lewis on Aug 30, 1944. Paul and Dorothy lived in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, during WWII, before moving to Anchorage, Alaska. After 10 years in Alaska, they lived in Washington, DC for 7 years, finally moving to Jefferson County, Florida, in August of 1964 to raise their 3 sons and farm the land they had bought in 1952. Dorothy and Paul raised cattle, corn, hay, peanuts, and timber together until Paul’s death in 1983. Afterwards, Dorothy continued to manage and operate the family farm near Aucilla with the help of her sons, daughters-in-law and 5 grandchildren.
Dorothy lived a full and active life having backpacked, camped, hunted and fished the Alaskan Wilderness before it was a state; ridden around Daytona Racetrack in a racecar; flown in a helicopter over an erupting volcano in Hawaii; cruised to several foreign countries; rode horseback in the mountains; deep-sea fished in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico; panned for gold; and cheered and clapped at countless ballgames, plays and debates for her grandchildren, whom she dearly loved.
Dorothy was a faithful member of Central Baptist Church in Aucilla. She was active in the Middle Florida Baptist Association and the Women’s Missionary Union, where she lived to serve in any way she could. At Central Baptist she kept the nursery and served as church clerk/secretary for many, many years. She cleaned the church, weeded the flower beds, pinch hit playing the piano, taught VBS, and delighted in cooking for 5th Sunday and Wednesday night dinners.
Dorothy was a member of the Jefferson County Farm Bureau where she served on the Board of Directors, as past-president, and State Women’s Officer. She also served on the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), as well as on the Healthyways Board. In 1989 Dorothy’s family received the Jefferson County Farm Family of the Year award, and in 2011 Dorothy was inducted into the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Hall-of-Fame.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 39 years, Paul Revere Lewis; her son Mark E. Lewis; a sister and brother-in-law Phyllis and Lowell Winsor; and brothers Vaughn, Eugene, and Quentin Richerson.
She is survived by sons John C. (Mary Alice) Lewis of Madison, Florida and David S. (Mona) Lewis of Monticello; grandchildren C. Taylor Lewis, MD, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; J. Elliott Lewis of Tallahassee, Florida; Jacob D. Lewis of Madison, Wisconsin; W. Wilson Lewis of Gainesville, Florida; and Abby S. Lewis of Memphis, Tennessee; brothers David (Mary Lou) Richerson of Elkland, Missouri and Kenneth (Shirley) Richerson of Marshfield, Missouri; sisters-in-law Gerri Richerson of Fairgrove, Missouri; Leona Richerson of Springfield, Missouri; and Willa Richerson of Lodi, California; and dozens of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Beggs Funeral Home of Monticello, Florida. Calling hours will be from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, April 19, at Beggs Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 20th, at Central Baptist Church, 625 Tindell Road, Monticello, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Baptist Church, P.O. Box 163, Monticello, Florida 32344.
