Lisa Fern Lewis

Lisa Fern (Cicio) Lewis was born January 23,1968, Atoka, Oklahoma to John and Nona Fern (Crist) Cicio, baby no. 1 of a set of very unexpected identical twin girls....a fact she never let anyone forget.. she was first!!

Lisa grew up on the farm north of Lehigh as the siblings before her did, playing jokes on people with her twin, making them guess who was who?? an activity which lasted right up until her death.

Lisa also was very active in school clubs during this time, and hanging with her friends, Shelley, Sandra, Christina, Theresa, and many, many more. Lots of fun was had by all; they were always together. One of the favorite activities was sneaking off to Circle N for a pizza pocket and Dr. Pepper during class. Lisa graduated from Coalgate High School in May 1986 and attended SOSU and NEO-SU for two years after high school.

Lisa and Cecil met in the most unexpected place, a crowded Walmart Christmas 1985. They became inseparable, and married in July 1986 at Hillcrest Baptist Church, Atoka, Oklahoma. Bro. Dennis Garner and Bro. John Howard officiated the ceremony.

Cecil started his teaching career after their marriage, and shortly they moved to NE Oklahoma, where they have resided to this day. Lisa and Cecil chaperoned many student trips and activities over the years, traveling across our great nation with kids and enjoying every minute of it. While they were getting settled, Lisa graduated from Tulsa Junior College, now known as Tulsa Community college in May 1991 with her associate degree in billing/coding. Lisa worked several years for Tulsa OB/GYN and various other clinics around Tulsa and Claremore. Lisa and Cecil built their home with a lot of sweat equity in 1992 all the while serving God, community and family.

The Lewises soon welcomed a son, Cameron Ryan Lewis to the family, and a while later, a daughter, Cathryn Leigh Lewis. Cameron helped expand their little family by marrying Tiffany Steelmon.

Lisa and Cecil spent their lives like many young couples raising kids, chasing kids, etc., serving God and community and trying to have a little fun in between. They instilled a deep purpose of faith, family and love in their children, which is very evident to all who know them.

During this time, Lisa found a new calling in life, paramedicine. She attended Rogers State College in Claremore where she received her associates in paramedicine. Lisa loved her work; her caring and compassionate nature coming through while working as a paramedic. However, an injury forced Lisa to retire from her beloved paramedic job but that didn’t stop her from supporting her coworkers and friends made during this time. She was able to be a fulltime mom for a while before her passing which everyone enjoyed. She was always there to help if called, and if she couldn’t get there, she prayed you out of the mess you were in. Trust me, been there done that, got the t-shirt.

Lisa had many talents, photography, cooking, sewing, crocheting, and loving people.

I will also say if you were blessed enough to receive a crocheted gift from Lisa, treasure it...many hours of love and prayers went into them. Every stitch was a prayer for the receiver.

Following this obituary are two tributes found on Lisa’s FB wall from her coworkers and friends...there are too many to mention here. Our Lizard Lewis was loved! Instead of telling you about how tough Lisa was, how much fun she could be...(especially the day we were playing miniature golf and she hit a ball so hard it went over the fence and hit a car. truth! Shelly Ables and Jody Cicio are witnesses), I am sharing these two tributes to Lisa. They could not be any more accurate. Our Lizard Lewis made a difference quietly or not so quietly.

All I can say in closing is, we will miss you, Lizard...it wasn’t supposed to be this way, but God knew only He could fix it...

Lisa is preceded in death by her parents: Nona Fern (Crist) Cicio and John Cicio; grandparents: Alma and AW Renfro, CG and Lottie Crist, and Martin and Sophia Cicio Kozak; one brother: Robert Cooper; one sister-in-law, Marjorie Cooper; one niece: Melissa Cooper, as well as several cousins, aunts, uncles and friends too numerous to mention.

She is survived by her husband, Cecil R. Lewis, Jr, of the home; one son: Cameron Lewis and wife Tiffany of Verdigris, OK; one daughter: Cathryn Leigh Lewis of the home; granddogs: Thor, Rosie, and Riley of Verdigris, OK; brothers: Roger Cooper, Locust Grove, OK, Martin and Sue Cicio, Coalgate, OK; brothers-in-love: Jim Bob and Amanda Lewis, Atoka, OK, Robert and Brenda Rackley, Newalla, OK; sisters: Deloris and Don Hedgecock, Coalgate, OK, Johnna and David Rosenthal, Van Alstyne, TX; sisters-in-love: Letha Guinn, Coalgate, OK; Helen Cooper, Wagoner, OK; parents-in-love: Cecil R. and Joyce Lewis, Atoka, OK.

Lisa has several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and very close friends, near and far who survive her as well. It is a blessing there is not enough paper in this world to list them.

Facebook Tributes: Jim Jordan

Jim Jordan

Lisa Lewis lost her life to complications of the Covid virus. I am reminded that each of us have a purpose in life. For some, it is to lead while others are to follow. Yet so many of us have other purposes in life, some of which are not so blatantly obvious. Lisa’s purpose was a subtly spectacular one that God ordained as a gift to us all. Some of His creature’s purposes are to bring beauty into the world like butterflies. Lisa’s purpose was to be a human butterfly. Wandering through this world, gentle and magnificently beautiful reminding us to take time and enjoy the beauty that God gives us!

Lisa was kind, gentle, and compassionate. She loved her family and though she was kind, gentle and compassionate, she could transform herself into a ferocious Lioness to protect her family. We worked together at EMSA and she was a meticulous and dedicated worker whose servant heart endured her to her co-workers. She was loved by all and she loved all of us. Lisa was always looking to do more, help more, and be more. Lisa’s legacy was her life, her family, and her spirit of kindness, gentleness and compassion. We should all leave such a legacy.

Lisa, the world will be less beautiful now that you have left us, but the memory of your presence in our lives will remain in our hearts and minds forever.

Wilson Morse, author, Rescuing Providence

A lady from Oklahoma would visit my page now and then, leave some thoughtful comments and move on. I felt like I knew her though we never met.

I see names pop up on things I write, sometimes I take the time to respond, usually I simply “like” the comment, letting whoever left it know that I read and appreciated the time they spent reading my words and sharing their thoughts. Last night I saw that she had passed

Last night I saw that she had passed away, another victim of Covid 19. I took some time and visited her space on the internet and felt a profound sense of loss. I know we cannot connect with every person who crosses our path here, yet still, I will miss her, and regret that I never got to know a person who honored me by reading my work. She had a full life and was just as busy as the rest of us but took the time to try and understand another person’s journey and appreciate it.

Rest in peace, Lisa Lewis, and thank you.

Sincerely Johnna Rosenthal