Ann Lee Etta Lewis

Ann Lee Etta Lewis (aka Kerr), 72, of O' Fallon, MO, formerly of Hannibal, MO, and Vandalia, MO passed away at 3:13 PM, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at SSM DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton, MO, surrounded by family.
A life celebration will be at 2:00 PM, Friday, August 1, 2025, at James O'Donnell Funeral Home in Hannibal, MO. There will be no traditional funeral as per Ann's wishes as she wanted a gathering full of laughter, great music, and fellowship.
Arrangements for cremation will follow the service.
Ann was born June 17th, 1953, in Vandalia, MO to Dee Etta Bishop Lewis Doolin, and Claude Lee Lewis. Her biological father was Clarence Warren.
She was married to William Lonnie Kerr in January 1971, although they later divorced.
Survivors include her daughter, Elondra Ann Kerr of Bridgeton, MO; three brothers, William Lewis (Sandra) of Florissant, MO, John Lewis of Phoenix, AZ, and Glen Conner of Vandalia, MO; two sisters, Havanna Cooper of Kirksville, MO, and Kimberly Lewis King (Elias) of Columbia, MO; brother-in-law, Darrell Wiser of Macon, MO; two grandchildren, Summer Davis, and Nicholas Davis II; her 3 chihuahuas, Baby Girl, Bonnie, and Coco; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and lifetime friends. Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Valeria Wiser and Cinderella Lewis, her infant brother Bishop Wayne Lewis, her grandson, Elijah Davis, and step-grand daughter Shy Davis.
Ann first attended Wellsville Middletown High School in Wellsville, MO, and later graduated from Hannibal High School, one year early, in 1971. Shortly after graduation she began working at Southwestern Bell as an operator and later was promoted to the sales division. During her time at Southwestern Bell, she also began selling life insurance for Western Southern Life Insurance and National Life Insurance. She also was a top performer in the local area for selling Mary Kay cosmetics.
In 1989 she earned a Business and Computer Certificate at the Education, Business, and Computer School in Nederland, TX through the Job Training Partnership Act (JTCPA), and was quickly hired as the Placement Coordinator for the program and excelled tremendously.
She later expanded her career to mentorship, admissions, financial aid, and job placement for disadvantaged students in Texas, Kansas, and Missouri. As said in her own words, she "liked helping others make the decision to change their careers and lives despite their circumstances."
After many years selling memberships at the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Missouri in St. Louis, MO, she made a full circle and completed her career selling life insurance again at Western Southern Life Insurance in Earth City, MO.
Throughout Ann's sales and vocational school career, she earned numerous awards and trophies for her top performance, and was often a mentor to the students and her peers.
Ann was known for her over the top personality, speaking her mind, and being the life of the party wherever she went. Ann's passion for music and dancing often lead to her participation in dance contests, spending countless hours on the dance floors, and learning new dances with family and friends. Her gift of gab, persuasiveness, and charm gave her the ability to influence security into allowing her backstage to mingle with her favorite performers. Ann loved planning concert trips with her family and friends to see some of the well known and popular jazz and r&b artists. Some of her favorite music artists include Billie Holliday, Chaka Khan, The O'Jays, Frankie Beverly and Maze, and Beyoncé. Along with music, Ann loved movies. She was an avid movie collector and movie goer. In fact, during an open audition for a Tyler Perry movie, she was picked to be an extra for Tyler Perry Studios.
Ann's sense of style was trend-setting, and her search of unique fashion took her to New York, Texas, Atlanta, and California to several fashion houses, garment districts and high-end thrift stores. No matter where she lived, she always kept her sewing machine handy, ready to add her special unique touches to her outfits. Her love of fashion and beauty encouraged her to participate in multiple fashion shows and gave her the ability to bring back the high fashion she experienced in the big cities to her family and friends.
In high school, Ann excelled at cheerleading and softball. In her adulthood, she continued playing softball on a team in Hannibal, MO, and also enjoyed bowling with co-workers, family, and friends. She was an avid fan of the Houston Oilers, New England Patriots, and later the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ann was baptist by faith, and belonged to churches in every town she lived in. Most notably, Eighth and Center Baptist Church in Hannibal, MO, Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Quincy, IL, and Bethesda Temple in Normandy, MO. She would gladly visit a church of any faith when invited.
Some of her joys of life included seeing her daughter graduate college, being a loving grandma, as well as dressing up and playing with her 3 sassy chihuahuas. She loved the color red, wigs, high heels, and long nails. She was well known for her Japanese Cherry Blossom and Chloé perfumes and her collection of incense. She loved collecting knick knacks, mainly anything with sunflowers, roosters, and lemons (after Beyoncé's Lemonade album). She was social media savvy and loved reposting and sending videos and pictures to her friends and family.
Ann will be remembered for her quirks, her funny quips, her sassiness, knowing her sense of self, and uplifting others.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Louis County Animal Control Center.
Online condolences may be shared and a video tribute may be viewed at www.JamesODonnellFuneralHome.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ann, please visit our floral store.