Paul Heywood Lewis

During his childhood and youth, Paul, along with his seven siblings, assisted in the operations of the iconic Wigwam Motel #6 and gas station on Route 66, constructed by their father in the 1950s. The family also collected petrified wood from the family’s properties, an activity that ignited Paul's life-long interest in geology.

In 1964, Paul graduated as valedictorian from Holbrook High School and later embarked on a 27-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala and El Salvador. Upon his return, he completed his undergraduate (1970) and graduate (1972) degrees in geology at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

While pursuing his degrees, Paul corresponded with Noemí Carmen Sardá, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the couple married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on November 17, 1972. Following brief residencies in Holbrook and Argentina, they established their permanent residence in Midland, Texas, in 1976, where they raised their five children.

Paul dedicated his professional life to working as a petroleum geologist and actively volunteered in various capacities for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his favorites involving working with missionaries and the Boy Scouts of America.

Aptly described as "brilliant and rustic" by his older brother, Paul had diverse interests, including classical music, literature (with a particular love for Les Misérables and novels by Jules Verne), family history and genealogy, scripture study, honing his Spanish skills, James Bond and westerns, ping pong, hiking and camping, rock and mineral collecting, lapidary work, photography, VW Bugs, travel abroad, dad jokes, donuts, and ice cream. However, most dear to him were his family and his faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul is survived by his wife, Noemí, and their five children, along with two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, and thirteen grandchildren: Pablo David Andrés “Andy” and Rynell Andersen Lewis and their four children of Orem, Utah; David and Annabel “Wendy” Faught and their five children of San Angelo, Texas; Michael and Cossette Ruth Stuy and their two children of Cedar Hills, Utah; Samuel “Sam” Alex and Cindy Montaño Lewis and their two children of Melissa, Texas; and Ariana Rachel Lewis of Midland, Texas.

Additionally, Paul is survived by three brothers and a sister-in-law: Clifton Lewis of Holbrook, Arizona; Higgins “Bob” and Jean Lewis of Gilbert, Arizona; and John Lewis of Midland, Texas.

A graveside service will be held at the Holbrook Cemetery in Holbrook, Arizona, at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 16, 2023.