MARY BLAIR LEWIS
Jan 19, 1938 - November 19, 2020
Mary Cornell Blair Lewis was born in Detroit, MI, to John Alexander Blair and Kathryn Kiefner Blair. She grew up in Pleasant Ridge, MI. She graduated from Kingswood School Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, MI, in 1956. She attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, graduating in 1960 with a degree in Literature. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
In September of 1959 Mary married Scott C. Lewis, whom she met while at Cornell. They lived in Ithaca for two years while Mary finished her BA, and Scott completed his MS degree in engineering. Their first child, Kathryn Blair Lewis, was born in Ithaca in April, 1961. They moved to Tulsa, OK in 1961 where Scott began his life-long career in a family owned manufacturing business. A short time later, they joined the new congregation of Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church.
Their second child, Harold Alexander Lewis, was born in Tulsa in February 1963. A third child, Elizabeth Cornell Lewis, was born in March of 1965 and died shortly after birth.
While raising her family, Mary was involved in church and community. She taught Sunday School to middle school aged children, and to adults in the Bethel Bible program at the Kirk. She later served as a Deacon. She was active in the Junior League of Tulsa, holding various leadership positions and serving as president. She helped lead Family and Children's Services as an active board member for many years.
Mary had a love of books and literature and was a life-long reader. After years of community service, she enrolled at Tulsa University to pursue an advanced degree in literature but was soon recruited by the Tulsa University Law School, where she finished her JD in 1982. She worked for the firm of Holliman Langholtz, later becoming a partner in the new firm of Brune, Pezold, Richie, and Lewis. Upon retirement from the firm Mary continued to practice independently and to provide much welcome advice and counsel to the family business.
She generously supported the Arts in Tulsa, including Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Ballet, Tulsa Library, and the McFarlin Library Trust. Even to the end of her life Mary nurtured her strong intellect through book club and investment club and continued study of the works of Shakespeare, always delighting and enlightening family and friends with her wise observations.
In addition to her love of reading, Mary loved to cook, was an avid gardener, and loved Grand Lake. She and Scott and the family spent most summer weekends at the lake, where the cabin would be full of kids and friends of kids, and of course the dog and the cats. She and Scott built a home at the Coves on Grand Lake in 1999 atop the bluff with an endless view. It was the location of many wonderful gatherings of family and friends. She was renowned for her picnics on the boat, and took special delight in the Fall migration of monarch butterflies and white pelicans.
Mary was preceded in death by her infant daughter Elizabeth Cornell Lewis. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Scott, and by children Blair Lewis Williams (Bob), Harold Alexander Lewis (Casie), grandchildren Kathryn Marotta Montgomery (Marcus), Jennifer Lewis Schmidt (Garrett), William Kiefner Lewis (Brenda), and Alexander Carney Lewis, and by one great-granddaughter. She is also survived her brother Charles Hildreth Blair (Lois) of Bloomfield Hills, MI, brother-in-law James C. Lewis (Carol), and several cousins and nieces and nephews.
There will be a family service and interment at the Lewis family plot at Memorial Park Cemetery in the near future.