Jo Ann Lewis

Burdett – Jo Ann (Eakin) Lewis was born February 15, 1933 in Larned, KS to Dwight Milton Eakin and Rita Kathleen (Ragle) Eakin, and passed away September 17, 2025 at Lovelace Westside Hospital, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Jo Ann graduated from Burdett High School and attended Business College in Kansas City, MO. On July 30, 1951 Jo Ann married Eldred Myron Lewis in Kansas City, MO, on his delay in route to Germany serving in the 5th Armored Division. He passed away on October 28, 2015 after 64 years of marriage.

Jo Ann was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, American Legion Auxiliary, Burdett Seniors, Burdett City Council, and the Westside Singles all of Burdett, KS and the DAR of Larned, KS. Serving in her churches as a Sunday School teacher and Board Member were a great joy to her. Jo Ann and Eldred were Foster Parents for 20 years taking many children into their home. Family has always been very important to Jo Ann working on family history over the years. She worked for five years as a bookkeeper and teller at the First State Bank. Eldred & Jo Ann started the business of Lewis Heating-Cooling & Appliances, Larned, KS in 1967 where she worked until her retirement in 2014. They turned the business over to their son Steven Lewis under the name of Comfort Systems in 2008.

Jo Ann was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, her parents, brother Dwight Edwin Eakin, sisters, Aurelia Moyer and Elaine Barnes.

Survivors include her sons Steven L. (Deborah) Lewis of Larned, KS; Michael D. (Shelley) Lewis of Rio Rancho, NM; her sister, Linda Schelhaas; her Grandchildren – Aaron Lewis, Ryan (Kandice) Lewis and Staci (Chance) Lewis-Sousa all of Rio Rancho, NM, two great grandchildren, Memphis Lewis and Tytan Lewis; Step Granddaughter Virginia (David) Griffin, Larned, KS and four step Great Grandchildren, Ethan Banman, Chicago, IL; Rebecca (Christian) Griffin, New Salisbury, IN; Victoria Griffin, Larned, KS and Jezlynn Griffin, Larned, KS.

Graveside service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 3, 2025 at Brown's Grove Cemetery, Burdett with Pastor Linda Doyle presiding. Burial in Brown's Grove Cemetery, Burdett.

Memorials may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.