Olan Lewis of Denison and lifelong resident of Pottsboro, at the age of 89, passed on peacefully at home on September 9, 2022. Olan was born in Hagerman, Texas, October 25, 1932 to B and Myrtle Jones Lewis. Olan was known to most as “Tuffy”.
He proudly served during the Korean War era aboard a destroyer escort in the Navy. He began employment in 1961 at Johns Manville, staying there until it closed. He worked at Oscar Mayer for a few years until he retired due to health issues. After he retired, he was able to pursue his passion of golf. He married Julia (Judy) Faye Seat in 1961. He was the proud father of three sons; Steve, John, and Wallace.
In addition to golf, during his youth, Tuffy enjoyed playing baseball for the Pottsboro Owls. He played on the John Manville softball team into his late forties. He was a fan of The Pottsboro Cardinals. He attended many baseball, football, basketball, and track events.
He became a loyal fan of The Dallas Cowboys from their beginning in the early sixties. He attended many early games. He was even present at the game when the now famous “Hail Mary” pass was thrown.
He was a member of The National Association of Left-handed Golfers. He and his son, John, played in one of their tournaments in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Being such an avid golf fan, he attended a Torrey Pines tournament in San Diego, California, The Bob Hope Classic in Palm Springs, California, and the Masters in Augusta, Georgia.
He traveled more after his retirement. He and his wife, Judy, were volunteers for the US Forest Service of Colorado for four summers. Their jobs were caretakers at Crooked Creek. This was a settlement of old mountain cabins and small lakes near Basalt, Colorado. They then moved to a retirement resort in Yuma, Arizona and wintered there. While they wintered in Yuma, they purchased a summer cabin in Platoro, Colorado, where they remained for 20 summers in this small mountain community. He enjoyed four-wheeler explorations off the beaten path areas nearby. He saw moose, deer, bighorn sheep, bear, elk, chipmunks, many unusual birds, and a den of red foxes.
He was a collector of vinyl albums and at one time his collection was above 2000. Which were mostly country and bluegrass.
Most recent years he lived in Satellite Beach, Florida. He was able to view many of the launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force. He was five blocks from the Atlantic Ocean and had a canal and dock in his back yard. He was very laid back in this environment.
Tuffy was preceded in death by his parents; twin brother Nolan, brothers; A.H. (Jackie), J.M., Wallace and dear sister Geneva Worthington and Lena Gill and Katy Miller.
The family wishes to thank the Guardian Hospice for the sincere support, care and smiles they brought to the family during this phase of his life. We will always be grateful.
Tuffy is survived by his wife, Judy, of the home; brother Franklin and wife Kay, of Austin, Texas; sister-in-law Dorothy widow of JM, of Post Oak, Texas; and Shirley Bean, widow of Nolan of Weatherford, Texas; Sons, Steve and wife Kim, of Hugoton, Kansas; John and wife Renee, of Satellite Beach, Florida, Wallace and wife Shelly, of Calera, Oklahoma; 7 grandchildren; 1 great granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews. He loved all of his family; sons, grandchildren, great granddaughter, siblings, nieces and nephews. He was very private and did not express his emotions, but he loved his family dearly.
A private service will be held at a later time.
