JoAnn Lewis

1927 - 2010

JoAnn J. Lewis, 83, died on Sunday, November 28, 2010, in Rancho Mirage, Calif. after a long battle with Parkinsons Disease. Born on February 11, 1927 in Campbell, Ohio to Pavla (Shujansky) and Joseph Graycar. Graduating from Campbell Memorial High School in 1945, Jo married Robert O. Wilson of Poland, Ohio on May 30, 1946 in Campbell, Ohio. Their daughters, Gail L. Wilson and Jacalyn A. Wilson were born in Poland, Ohio. Bob and Jo resided there until 1964 when they relocated to Parma, subsequently divorcing in 1965. JoAnn later relocated to Atlanta, Ga. and met and married Henry "Harry" Lewis on December 12, 1981. They were transferred to Fremont, Calif. in 1983. Following Harry's death in 1992, JoAnn moved from Fremont to Palm Springs in July 1993 where she met Richard F. Smith, her long time companion of 16 years. They lived together at Mission Hills Senior Living since 2008, thriving in the wonderful and caring lifestyle they enjoyed there. JoAnn began her accounting career in Youngstown, Ohio in 1956. She subsequently worked in Cleveland, Atlanta and Boston for a number of diversified companies before forming her own bookkeeping and accounting service, The Better Ledger, in Fremont in 1984. In Palm Springs, JoAnn worked in the box office at the Palm Springs Follies and the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum. JoAnn was an avid needlework enthusiast and produced many beautiful cross stitch and needlepoint creations. She was fiercely loyal and adored her family and friends. Preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Pavla Graycar; two infant sisters; her three sisters, Pauline Graycar, Stacy Buccilli and Phyllis Markusic; her sister-in-law, Dorothy Graycar; her brother, Robert Graycar; her husband, Robert O. Wilson; and her husband, Harry Lewis. JoAnn is survived by her sister, Agnes Ingorvate and brother, James Graycar both of Campbell, Ohio; and her two daughters and son-in-law, Jacalyn Wilson, Gail Wilson and John Purdy all of Palm Springs, as well as six nieces and nephews, and her long time companion, Richard F. Smith. JoAnn will be interred at the Welwood Murray Cemetery in Palm Springs with only family in attendance. A Celebration of Life will be held at Mission Hills Senior Living, 34560 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA on Saturday, December 11, 2010 from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family invites contributions to Save-A-Pet, 67600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs, California 92240 "in memory of JoAnn Lewis".
To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: mydesert.com/obituaries