Raymond "Ray" Lewis

WEAVERVILLE – Raymond “Ray” Lewis, age 68, of Weaverville, passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC. His 17 years with Parkinson's Disease was a grueling journey which he undertook with courage, dignity and even his unique wry wit.

Ray was born on June 14, 1957, in Akron, Ohio to the late Raymond Jasper and Barbara Lang Lewis. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Greg Lewis. Surviving is his wife of 23 years, Melissa Mayers Lewis, extended and distant family, and dear friends.

He grew up in Richmond, KY and graduated from Eastern Kentucky University. As a young man, he worked as a photographer, locksmith and printer, occupations he enjoyed, but he found the stable foundation he was seeking when he joined the Army in the early 80s. He specialized in communications technology in the Signal Corps, serving at several bases in the US and in Panama but he was most happy during his tour in Tokyo, Japan where he said he felt surprisingly at home.

After leaving the service he worked as an information technology consultant in Lawton, OK, then spent several years working at Sprint while living in Kansas City (where he met Melissa) and retired as a Director of Information Technology for an information security firm in West Virginia. He and Melissa moved to Weaverville in December 2010.

Ray was a Renaissance man. He had an engineer's mind for science, creating several patented inventions; an adventurer's soul as a certified pilot, taking to the skies every chance he could in his single engine plane named “Fifi”; a handyman's know-how, renovating several houses with skill and precision; and an artist's soul, creating beautiful works in wood, metal, clay and unconventional materials. Most of all, he had a heart of kindness, offering support, patience, wisdom, humor and love to Melissa and everyone he cared about.

An informal gathering for visiting and viewing photos, artwork and mementos of Ray's life will be held from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, NC. A time for remembrances will begin at 3:45p.m. for those who would like to share memories. Ray's ashes will be spread from the air, where he felt his greatest peace, sometime in the future over the plains of Kansas where he loved to fly.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to be serving Ray’s family. Condolences may be offered under his obituary at www.westfamilyfuneralservices.com.

In lieu of flowers Ray would have appreciated donations to the source of many happy memories from his Kentucky youth: Mammoth Cave National Park. (https://www.nps.gov/maca/getinvolved/donate.htm)