Gloria Jean Lewis

Gloria Jean Hickey Poppelreiter Lewis, longtime resident of Santa Fe, beloved wife, mother and sister, passed away October 10, 2021. Lewis moved to Atlanta, GA in 2015. Lewis was born in Paragould, Arkansas on January 16, 1934. Lewis was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Clayton Lewis, MD; parents, Jesse and Bessie Hickey; three sons: Charles Daniel, Thomas David and Philip Simon Poppelreiter; and step- son, David J. Lewis.

At age five, Lewis moved from Arkansas to Memphis, Tennessee, where she was raised. She graduated from University of Memphis (Memphis State University) with Bachelor and Master’s degrees. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She was employed at University of Memphis as administrator for seven years. In 1980, she moved to New Mexico and took a position with Northern New Mexico Community College as Dean of Continuing Education. Next, as a member of the College founding team, Lewis took a position as a Dean of Continuing Education at Santa Fe Community College. After resigning from SFCC, Lewis served on the SFCC Foundation Board. After concluding her higher education career, Lewis was appointed as a Commissioner to the New Mexico Commission of higher Education Board. Along with her husband, Lewis was an enthusiastic traveler to many areas of the world.

Lewis was a proud mother of five children, a loving wife to Clayton Lewis. A published novelist and an accomplished watercolorist, Lewis enjoyed writing, painting, gardening, but most of all, she loved her family and friends. A vigorous, intelligent woman, she always explored life with energy and enthusiasm and believed in giving her personal best to every endeavor.

Lewis is survived by her children from her first marriage to Charles Poppelreiter: Carol Ann McEwin and Cara Jean Shea; by her grandchildren: Eric Poppelreiter, Brian Poppelreiter, Mary Light, Erin Dreiling, Julia Holst, Jeanette Poppelreiter, Crystal Sudduth, Barbara Taylor and Tim Shea, and nieces and nephews.