Margaret A. Lewis

On Saturday, August 9th, 2025, cherished wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, and daughter, Margaret Ann Lewis (nee Beardsmore) reunited with her beloved husband, William 'Bill' Lewis, Sr. for eternity. She was 89 years old.
The youngest of four children, Margaret grew up and spent much of her life in the Alton, Illinois area. She loved to share the memory of tooling around Alton and Jerseyville as a teenager with her best friend, Perky, in her 1936 Dodge, the one that you could see the ground through the holes in the floorboards. She'd always laugh about how they'd stop at random creeks and streams out in the country to walk barefoot through the water. After graduating from Alton High School in 1955, Margaret worked at Hussman and began saving for her future with Bill. After they were married in 1957 and they decided to start a family, Margaret embraced whole-heartedly the challenges of being a homemaker. She devoted herself to creating a beautiful, loving home for her family. As an avid gardener, she worked diligently every spring and summer to grow and preserve the vegetables that she would then prepare for her family throughout the year. Her plate was certainly full with all the responsibilities and chores that came with keeping a home, growing and home-canning food, and raising two active boys, including volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America, but what many did not realize was that she was also helping build her husband, Bill's, successful commercial refrigeration business. For many years, she managed the home-office, scheduling service calls and assisting with the billing and invoicing. Working as a strong husband-and-wife team, her contributions to the business, as well as keeping their home running smoothly while he worked long hours, helped to ensure Bill's entrepreneurial success that so benefited their family. When Bill became ill in later years, she didn't hesitate a moment to become his sole, full-time caregiver. The love and devotion she tirelessly exhibited throughout that time is truly a testament to her quiet strength, dignity, and amazing character.
Margaret's free time came when she and her family would go to Bonita Springs, Florida each winter. She loved the beaches and shelling and just being out on the water. So much so, that in later years she eventually moved to Bonita full-time. Part of the love she had for the beaches and outdoors led her to become a valued member of the volunteer team at the Barefoot Beach Preserve. For over ten years, she served as a knowledgeable docent, educating visitors on the natural beauty and wildlife found on the preserve. She especially enjoyed spending time with the visiting families, helping the children look up and identify all the shells and plants they'd found on the beach and trails.
When back in Illinois, Margaret loved spending time with her family and friends. She hated being bored so she was always busy. Whether it was going here and there with her grandchildren, or getting together with "the girls" for coffee, or exercise classes, or going on trips, she always stayed active. And as everyone that knew her knew, she was always the first one ready to go out to eat or to gather with family and friends for cocktails.
For friends, neighbors, and family that loved her, Margaret will be remembered for many things: her warm smile, her tireless energy, her independent nature, and her sense of humor, but most especially she'll be remembered for her loving and generous spirit.
She'll be missed immensely by her sons, Michael S. Lewis, Sr. (Vickey) of FL/IL and William C. Lewis, Jr. (Selena) of MO; by her grandchildren, Michael Lewis, Jr. (Melynda), Charles Lewis, Jennifer Keehn (Jimi), and William Lewis, III; by her great-granddaughter, Margaret Elaine Lewis, even though they met only once; and by many nieces and nephews.
Margaret was preceded in death by the love of her life, William C. Lewis, Sr.; by her parents Elmer and Florence (LePere) Beardsmore; and by her siblings and their spouses, Jeanette Garegnani (Vincent), Gloria Johnson (Everett), and William Beardsmore (Mary Ann).
Special thanks to the loving care provided by Cindy and her staff at Kiva at Canterbury. And to the Vitas team, especially Marie and Winnie.
A graveside service will be held at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetary in Godfrey, Illinois, followed by a Celebration of Margaret's life. Details will be announced at a later date.