Thornton Thomas Lewis Sr. Obituary (1945 - 2022)

Thornton Thomas Lewis, Sr. was born in 1945 in Galveston, TX, to Theresa Ruth (Moody) and Milton Lewis. He grew up in Hitchcock, TX on a small family plot with several of his cousins and his grandparents. He was a Ball High graduate who played baseball and the clarinet. After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force, despite the opportunity to attend college, believing it was his duty to serve his country. After the Air Force, he attended the University of Houston, where he became a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. He then met the love of his life, his wife, Mary Elaine Sheppard. With her he raised 4 children I. their home in Texas City, TX. He was a committed father, husband and PawPaw. To support his growing family he worked as a security officer for Johnson Space Center for several decades. With his knack for numbers and commitment to improving the lives of his fellow security officers, he served as secretary and treasurer for his local Union chapter as well. After his retirement, he was not one to sit at home, and took a position working security at the cruise loading ports in Galveston. He always had smile and a warm greeting for everyone. He loved baseball and most sports, westerns and musicals and was an avid reader of Louis L'amour novels and the Bible. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 45 years, Mary Elaine Lewis, his oldest son James "Earl" Lewis, and his parents Theresa and Arthur Moody and Milton Lewis. He leaves behind his children: Tonya Lewis(Roy), Thornton Lewis, Jr. and Portia Coleman (Kenneth), grandchildren: Anthony Traymon, Jr., Jalon Lewis, James Lewis, Eliza Coleman, Ian Coleman and Oliver Coleman, his cousins who were like siblings: Clarence Sims, Jr., Jacquelyn Butler, James Ross, Anthony Gallop and Kim Johnson and many more friends and relatives. He will be missed greatly. There will a public visitation held on Friday, March 11, 2022 at McKinney Memorial Chapel at 10am with a church service to begin at 11am. Burial to follow at Mainland Memorial Cemetery.