Nola R. Lewis

On May 27, 2016, Nola R. Lewis (nee, Hickman) passed on to her eternal reward after battling breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Ms. Lewis was born in Prairie Grove, Arkansas in February 1943. She was a graduate of Bentonville High School and attended secretarial business school in Kansas City, Missouri. She worked as a legal secretary for four decades at the Kansas City office of the Spencer Fane law firm. In 2006, she retired and moved to Bentonville, Arkansas in order to be near her parents. Ms. Lewis enjoyed travel to destinations in the southeastern U.S., reading – especially crime stories and biographies, shopping, music, gardening, fine dining and spending time with her family. Despite illness, Ms. Lewis was able to take her last trip in March 2015 to New Orleans and she was struck by the serendipity of lodging at a hotel adjacent to where Robert Durst was lodging when he was arrested. However, Ms. Lewis was disappointed that illness deprived her of traveling to numerous other destinations on her bucket list. Ms. Lewis was known for her sense of humor -- she insisted that her grandchildren call her "Granola." Ms. Lewis married Robert W. Lewis in May 1964. They were long-time residents of Raytown, Missouri and Lee's Summit, Missouri. Ms. Lewis joined her husband in support of various community activities, many of which were associated with their children's activities, including Boy Scouts, Indian Guides, Cub Scouts (Ms. Lewis was a den mother) and dancing. Ms. Lewis was integral to her husband's election to, and multiple years of service on, the Raytown School Board. Ms. Lewis was a strong proponent of education and she was proud that her two children were college graduates. She attended Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church and Woods Chapel United Methodist Church. Ms. Lewis is survived by:  her son, Bradley S. Lewis, of Bentonville, Arkansas, married to Ellen S. Lewis; her daughter, Elizabeth A. Manning, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, married to Brian T. Manning; her five grandchildren: Robert B. Lewis, Benjamin W. Manning, Grace E. Manning, Kenneth B. Lewis, and Katherine S. Lewis; her brother, Eddie Hickman, of Rogers, Arkansas, married to Debbie Hickman; her sister-in-law Sallie Graham, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, married to John Graham; her brother-in-law, Douglas P. Lewis, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, married to Jan Lewis, and other family and friends. Ms. Lewis is predeceased by her husband, Robert W. Lewis, and her parents, Ray E. Hickman and Hester B. Hickman. Her family will never forget the love that she shared with them and the many ways she supported them in their various endeavors.  She will forever remain in their hearts. Ms. Lewis's Celebration of Life will be from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday June 1st at The Stanley, 25 SE Third Street Lees Summit, Mo. (Downtown, Lee's Summit.) Please join Ms. Lewis's family as they celebrate the life she so lovingly shared with them.