Paul Robert Lewis

March 7, 1935 – Feb. 4, 2025

In the early morning hours of February 4, 2025, Paul Robert Lewis slipped from this world to join his parents, brothers and sisters who have gone before him. The last several years he talked frequently about how much he missed them. 

Paul was born in Lovell on March 7, 1935, to parents Rudger Roland Lewis and Bertha Mortensen. He completed the family of six children. His oldest brother, Rudger Dee, was born in 1920, followed by sister Esther in 1921. Brother Newell Clark was born in 1923, but passed away at the age of 6 from heart damage caused by childhood diseases. This was a very sad time for the family. In 1928, just six months before the death of Newell Clark, Shirley Ann joined the family. Mary followed in 1931 and finally Paul in 1935.

Paul’s early childhood was spent growing up in Cowley. He played with siblings, cousins and friends riding ponies and bikes, fishing and swimming in the Cowley Wash. He was taught to work and helped with the family livestock by feeding, watering and milking cows. 

He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on his 8th birthday, March 7, 1943. 

His education was at the Cowley schools until his later high school years, when he made the decision to leave school and get a job. With the event of this decision, there was a conversation with his dad. He was told since he was no longer going to school but was now earning a paycheck, he would pay his mother a weekly payment for laundry, meals, etc. He did this faithfully each week until he moved from the family home. 

Even though he didn’t graduate with his class, they included him in their reunion fun each time they gathered. He loved getting together with his friends from school to visit and catch up. 

On May 31, 1955, Paul married Leora Asay at the home of his brother Dee Lewis and wife Jennie in Cowley. They lived in a small apartment in Lovell until December of 1956, when they purchased an older two-bedroom home in Cowley. Through the years they remodeled and added on, making it a comfortable home for the family. 

To this union came two daughters, Coleen in 1956 and Julaine in 1960. Both Paul and Leora wanted more children, but due to Leora’s health issues they were told they were lucky to have two. 

Paul worked at several jobs in the early years until the beginning of Nicholls and Lewis Construction, started by his brother Dee and Dee’s brother-in-law Lyle Nicholls. He was employed there for many years, with winters being hard as the construction business was very slow, making little or no income during those months. 

Most everyone working at Nicholls and Lewis gained a nickname, and Paul’s was Bear. After Coleen was born the family was known as the Three Bears. The company grew and added more services, and Paul decided to take a second mortgage on the family home and buy into the company as a partner along with Don Nicholls and Jim Donley. There were good years and bad, making life stressful. If the company was lost so was the family home. Thankfully, this did not happen.

In the mid 1980s Paul and Leora separated, and Paul moved to the Sheridan area and started his own company, Lewis Holding, Inc. He worked hard to earn a living and make a name for himself. The new company grew and employed several workers, including grandsons. 

In his later years, he took a step back and the company was managed by grandsons, but unfortunately the slow economy and some business decisions caused the company to close. Paul struggled for the remaining years of his life with the loss of the two businesses that were so dear to his heart. He gained many friends and business acquaintance across the state of Wyoming. 

During his time in Sheridan he was in a relationship with Ann Wilm, and she remained with him until his death. She gave of herself to take care of him until the end. 

Paul may have seemed gruff on the outside (maybe that is where the nickname came from) but he had a soft heart, stopping to help others on the side of the road and giving money at Christmas time to families who he thought needed help. He was always there for his family. He was blessed to have all of his siblings live close by. 

Paul, Dee and friends enjoyed hunting on the Big Horns. All the families camped and picnicked together on the mountain, as well. When his girls were young the family celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas morning breakfasts all together with the siblings and their children. Each Sunday at 5 p.m. they met at Esther’s home to visit and share stories. Paul loved his family, and they were very close.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, all of his siblings accept Mary, who followed him two weeks later to complete the Lewis family unit in Heaven, son-in-law Glenn Scheeler and great-grandson Tanner William Scheeler. Even though Paul and Leora were separated for many years, they were never divorced, and she waited for him in Heaven, as well.

Paul leaves his two daughters, Coleen Scheeler and her family – son Christopher (Allison) Scheeler and their nine children and three granddaughters, daughter Cara (Chris) Chadwick and their four children and three grandchildren, son Craig (Tiffani) Scheeler and their three children and son Clayton (Justine) Scheeler and their two children – and Julaine (Kim) Askvig and her family – daughter Heather Askvig and her three children, daughter Sarah Roper and fiance Shane Pitt and their five children and son Jacob Askvig. 

Per Paul’s request, cremation has taken place. Services will be Friday, March 7, (his 90th birthday) at 11 a.m. at the Cowley LDS Church with burial of cremains in the Cowley Cemetery. 

Haskell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.