Lewis Hewett Jones, 79, died on Dec. 7 at his home after a long illness.
Lewis was born in Windsor on May 9, 1934, the son of Elbridge Jones and Irene Bartlett Jones. Lewis attended Windsor schools and attended high school at both Erskine Academy and Cony High School.
While still in high school, Lewis worked for the Town of Windsor as a snowplow driver and also drove the local school bus.
Following high school Lewis was hired by the Central Line Corporation of New York, where he installed and maintained underground pipelines. Lewis enjoyed his work on the pipeline and his duties brought him to Canada, Cuba, and as far away as Saudi Arabia.
In 1952, Lewis was drafted into the Army and worked as a medic at Fort Dix in New Jersey and at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Tex. Lewis was eventually stationed in Verdun, France as a medic before receiving an honorable discharge.
After returning to Maine from his military service, Lewis worked for the state hospital as an aide before beginning a long tenure at Hussey’s General Store in Windsor. Lewis held many responsibilities for the Hussey family and eventually rose to the position of vice president.
In the late 1980s Lewis left Hussey’s and opened his own store, Jones’s Hardware and Appliances, in Windsor. In 1994 Lewis sold his appliance business and eventually returned to Hussey’s General Store as an integral part of the hardware division. Lewis stayed with Hussey’s until his permanent retirement in 2008. Lewis enjoyed a very close relationship with Jay Hussey and often helped Jay on his deer farm and at his saw mill.
Lewis was an avid and loyal member of several civic organizations including The Lions Club, The Masons, The Shriners, and was a past minister of The Odd Fellows. Lewis was also a 50-year member of the Windsor Grange and a 25-year member of the Windsor Fire Department. Lewis was a member of the Windsor Fair Association for many years and also served in various administrative capacities for the Town of Windsor.
Lewis is survived by his wife of 21 years, Julia Jones; sister, Carolyn Bragg of Vassalboro; son, Lewis Jones II and partner Brian Cole of Oakland; daughter, Cynthia Simmons of Hamilton, Bermuda; stepson, Chip Kelley and wife Inez of Pittston; stepdaughter, Corie Doane and husband Claude of West Enfield; grandchildren, Janelle Simmons and Arianna Simmons of Bermuda; and step-grandchildren, Andy Kelley and John Kelley of Pittston.
Visiting hours will be held from 6-8 p.m., Thurs., Dec. 12 at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner where a funeral service will be 11 a.m., Fri., Dec. 13. Burial will follow in the family lot in the Rest Haven Cemetery in Windsor.
