Gary F. Lewis was the eldest of three children born to Victor and Virginia Lewis in Muskogee, OK on August 3, 1943.  He moved to Tulsa with his family when he was 10 years old. He attended Eisenhower and Edison where he excelled in athletics and academics. He loved baseball, excelled as a left-handed pitcher and was selected as the 1961 Oklahoma State Player of the Year.  Upon graduating high school, he signed with the New York Yankees where he played in the minor leagues for five years. Due to his ardent love of the Yankees, he chose to play for them in the minors rather than pursue major league offers. While playing professionally for the Yankees he attended Oklahoma State University, earning a degree in Finance. He subsequently earned a Juris Doctorate at the University of Tulsa by attending law school in the evenings while working full time at Cities Service. As an international tax attorney, he served as Tax Director for Parker Drilling.

While forging his successful career, Gary was able to instill his love of baseball in the next generation by volunteering as a pitching coach for American Legion and other teams as well as individuals. Gary was also diligent in teaching his daughters to not throw like girls (for the most part).

At age 11, Gary was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. He was determined to achieve all he could and never used his disease as a crutch. Gary was simply a good person.  He was completely unpretentious and unaffected. He lived his life with integrity, honesty and strength of character as well as tenacity and a positive outlook. Gary saw life as a gift and appreciated each day while loving and enjoying his family and friends with a twinkle in his eye and a dimple in his cheek.

While attending OSU, Gary met his future wife, Jonna. They were married 53 years and as Gary recently said, Jonna was his best friend for 55 years.  He was always quick to say his four adored daughters were the best thing that ever happened to him: Lori Ross (Mike), Julie Smith, Stacy Margolis (Mike), and Kate Lewis. Gary also cherished his four grandchildren: Madison and Gaby Ross and Annabel and Max Margolis. Gary is also survived by his sister, Connie Owens (Jerry), and three nieces and three nephews. Gary was pre-deceased by his parents and younger brother, Mark.

Gary was a long time member of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church where he served on the Board and was also an active member and former President of the Pilgrimage Class.Gary died peacefully surrounded by his loving wife and daughters on January 17, 2018. Viewing will be 5:00pm – 7:00pm on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel. Funeral Service will be at 11:00am on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 in the sanctuary of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Burial at Calvary Cemetery.

Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, 918-291-3500.