OBITUARY

Father James Joseph LEWIS, C.M., beloved priest of the Sacred Heart Church since November of 1941, passed away at his home in Canadian on March 18, 1945. He had been in poor health for some time and had spent a few days in the Shamrock hospital a short time before his death.

Father LEWIS was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, July 16, 1890. He attended school in Canada until he was eleven. Then the family moved to Hollister, California. He attended high school in Los Angeles and later graduated from St Vincent’s college there. While at college he was a noted athlete, was center on the famous St. Vincent football team and won letters in football, basketball and track.

At the time of his death, Father LEWIS had been an ordained priest for nearly 27 years. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph Sarsfield Glass, C.M., in the Cathedral at Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 16, 1918. He began his studies for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary in Perryville, Missouri, on November 12, 1910. The course there included two years novitiate, two years philosophy, and four years of theology.

The Most Reverend John Joseph Glennon D.D., Arch-Bishop of St. Louis, Missouri, ordained Father LEWIS sub-deacon on December 15, 1916, and deacon the following day. He celebrated his first mass on June 23, 1918, in Sacred Heart Church, Hollister, California. During the past years he served in many of the large cities of the United States, and spent seven years in China. He spoke Chinese fluently and had many photographs taken during his work in the Orient.

Surviving relatives include three sisters, Mrs. Margaret GALVIN, of Hollister, California; Sister Elizabeth of the Roman Catholic Orphanage, San Francisco; and Mrs. Christina WAHL, of Sunnyville, California; three brothers, William, Thomas B. and District Attorney John T. LEWIS, all of Hollister, California; one uncle, John LEWIS of Hollister; and a cousin, Father Fred LEWIS, who was with him at the time of his death.

Funeral services were held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Canadian. Father Stacky gave mass and Father Marshall Winne will deliver the sermon. Burial was in the Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery in Canadian. Father LEWIS had grown to love, and in which he made so many friends.

(Published in The Hemphill County News (Canadian, TX), March 23, 1945.)

(Submitted by Angie Mitchell Martin)