Beloved husband of Carmen (nee Harrigan); loving father of Asthon Ramon Harrigan (Milagros), Melvin Joseph Lewis (Heather) & Cynthia Dailey (James A. III); grandfather of
Dominick W. Harrigan, Jasmin A. Harrigan, Kelly Lewis, AJ Lewis, Xoria A. Dailey, Xenia M. Dailey and Kyla Dailey; Brother of Carlos Angel Lewis, Minely Lewis, Freddy Antonio Lewis, and the late Ana Lewis; Half Siblings Minervita, Antonio, Jeselyn, and Janet
James was a Boy scout leader in DR when he was young, Received his college degree in Education while in the DR where he taught 7th and 8th grade math, was an Entrepreneur at heart, he owned a nightclub showing his love of music and also a bakery while in the DR. He was a Devoted Christian and attended Latin Church services in the DR.
James left the DR to Puerto Rico in pursuit of better opportunities and met his future wife Carmen Portes, now Carmen Lewis.
He worked in Saudi Arabia & Guatemala working on pre-fabricated homes then traveled to Louisiana following work opportunities finding employment in local oil refinery in New Orleans. With all his travel back and forth he brought his family to Cleveland in 1988 where he settled down, purchased his first home and really began growing in the local hispanic catholic community. In Cleveland he started celebrating La Altagracia mass as an outreach to Dominicans and other hispanics in the community
His love for travel took his family to places like New York, Fort Bragg, Wyoming, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Texas and even Hawaii. His love of family spawned the annual "Beach Trip" where he invited Family, Friends, and Co-workers for over 30 years.
He worked as a carpenter in the latter half of his career. He was able to pass his skill set to sons and other men in the family, building not just structures but community.
Family will receive friends at the Corrigan Craciun Funeral Home, 20820 Lorain RD Tuesday from 4-8pm. Funeral Mass Wednesday at 10am in La Sagrada Familia Church, 7719 Detroit Ave. Please Meet at Church. Interment Private. 440-331-0500.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CorriganCraciunFuneralHome.com for the Lewis family.
