Lamar Lewis

Lamar was born at King’s Daughters Hospital on January 17, 1954, to Benny Lee and Wilma Lewis. He graduated from Academy High School in 1972. After high school, he attended Temple Junior College, where his mother taught in the English department. He then attended Baylor University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1976.

Lamar was an educator, coach, and athletic director in Texas public schools for 33 years. He coached at Belton Jr. High (1980-1983), Rosebud-Lott High School (1983-1986), Moody High School (1986-1989), Detroit High School (1989-1991), Buffalo High School (1991-1993), A.C. Jones High School in Beeville (1993-1996), Floresville High School (1996-2001), Ingleside High School (2001-2004), and Bandera High School (2004-2013).

After he retired in 2013, he served as district director for Hugh Shine, former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, District 55. In 2021, Lamar ran as a Republican candidate for Texas Senate, District 24.

He is survived by his wife, Doris Colleen Tomlin Lewis, with whom he celebrated fifty years of marriage last summer, Colleen’s parents, Walter and Doris Tomlin, of Academy, his brothers, Benny Frank and Pamela Lewis, of Forney, and Russell and Cassandra Lewis, of Papillion, Nebraska. He is also survived by his children and their spouses: Lindsay Penelope Illich and her husband, Craig Anthony Meister, of Milton, Massachusetts, Lauren Elizabeth Brisbin and her husband Robert William Brisbin, of Temple, and Lamar Tomlin Lewis and his wife, Emily Catherine Lewis, of Temple, he is survived by his six grandchildren: Dobie Boone Illich, Hazel Barrett Meister, Bonnie Blue Lewis, Doris Mae Lewis, Penelope Kathryn Brisbin, and Brazos Dabney Lewis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Benny Lee Lewis and Wilma Louise Oslin Lewis, of Temple, his sister, Penelope Lewis, and his granddaughter, Birdy Louise Brisbin.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 14th from 4-6 pm at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple, TX.

His funeral will be Saturday at 10 am, Taylor’s Valley Baptist Church, followed by graveside at Greathouse Cemetery. The funeral will be livestreamed on the Taylor’s Valley Baptist Church YouTube channel.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the REACH Capital Campaign at Taylor’s Valley Baptist Church (2497 W Farm to Market 93, Temple, Texas, 76502).