James E. "Jim" Lewis
August 1, 1956 ~ June 7, 2020
Born in:
Asheville, NC
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
James Edgar “Jim” Lewis, 63, passed away Sunday, June 7, 2020, at Mission Hospital.
A native of Asheville, Jim was the son of the late Robert E. “Bob” and Mary Louise Finch Lewis. He was a graduate of Asheville High School and had attended A-B Tech.
Jim worked in the electrical industry for more than 40 years, including 30 plus years with Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED) Asheville. He was a fixture in the business where his customers became some of his closest friends. He achieved many top sales awards while working in outside sales for CED, and in 2018, he was awarded the North Carolina Vendor of the Year by the WNC Electric League.
Outside of work, Jim was a big family man who loved being a “Pawpaw” to his grandchildren. He loved for the family to gather where he could grill out and show off his famous BBQ skills. He and his wife Jami loved traveling and spending time with each other and their dogs, Tucker and Zoey. Their home away from home was in Emerald Isle, NC where Jim loved to surf fish, eat oysters, and take in the sunsets at the Yacht Club in Swansboro. Frequent trips to the NC coast were instilled in Jim by Jami’s family, and are a tradition the family will continue in his name. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to be in the woods whenever possible. He spent plenty of time in a deer blind, but often would just watch and observe nature rather than do any hunting.
Jim was a larger than life man with a big heart and a generous spirit. He would offer help to anyone in need and never expect anything in return. His passing will be felt all across the community where Jim never met a stranger and always greeted you with a smile.
He is survived by his wife Jami Payne Lewis, his sons and daughters-in-law Jason and Tara Lewis, and James and Ashley Lewis, and a daughter and son-in-law, Shannon and Kevin Leicht. Also surviving are grandchildren Justin Woods, Raegan and Konner Leicht, and Ella Grace Lewis “on-the-way.” He is also survived by two sisters and brothers-in law, Rebecca and Dr. Howard Miller, and Beth and Keith McDevitt; and a brother, Bobby Lewis, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A private Memorial Service will be held with a Celebration of Life to be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The National Kidney Foundation or The Eliada Home of Asheville.
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Good childhood friend spent many hours at his house growing up sure will be missed
Your life touched many, Jimmy. I know your mom, dad and our grandparents welcomed you through Heavens Gates. Rest In Peace Sweet Cousin.
So sorry for your loss. Jim was a great friend to many including myself. Praying for Jami and the entire family during this time.
Sending thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Jim touched many people and will be missed greatly. Thinking and praying for you during this time.
Jonathan , Heather and Kye Taylor
So sorry to hear if Jim’s passing. We are keeping all of you in our thoughts and prayers. Treasure all of your precious memories. He was a sweet man! Love, Audrey Goodew and Brian and JoDee Quinn
Jami, I am so very sorry for your loss. Peace and love to you and your family.
Jami I am so sorry for your loss, I know all to well what you are going through. I lost my husband unexpectedly on May 20, 2020. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
I remember Jim from the 1970’s when we were both in the Buncombe County Rescue Squad. Jim was always a ‘bigger than life’ type of fella that I enjoyed knowing. Our loss is Heavens Gain.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Jim was a great man. He was always so kind to everyone. I know he was your rock and your hero and now you will have an angel watching over you from Heaven. Prayers for peace and comfort. Love y’all.
Thoughts and Prayers for the Lewis family. May God give you peace in the days ahead 🙏
Dearest Jami and Family,
We are thinking of you all during this difficult time. Sending prayers for the peace found in beautiful memories and gifts yet to be received. Juli and Alan
An inspiration to all is an understatement & the strongest man I know.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jami and the entire Lewis family. Jim was a friend and one of the toughest people I have ever known. Watching him endure the last couple of years with such a positive attitude was inspirational. I miss him, and will miss all our great laughs together.
Lance Shaw and family.
Jamie & Family, Jim was a great friend to several people here at Haynes Electric in all of his dealings, and he will be greatly missed, our prayers and thoughts go out to his family. Jim made his mark in life in the electrical supply business but those that knew him best were touched most by his strength of character.
So sorry for the loss of such a friend to so many. Jaime and family our deepest
condolences. He was such a help to us in the business, cooking for wedding and
being a friend in general.
Jim was the eternal optimist. He had a knack for turning problems into opportunities. He was always kind and never had a harsh word towards others. You couldn’t not like Jim. He will be missed by all of us at MB HAYNES and all of us in the Electrical Industry.
Elizabeth
Our condolences are being sent to Jim’s family. You are being held closely in our thoughts and prayers. We have known Jim since he was a teenager when he joined the Buncombe County Rescue Squad. He was a remarkable man and dear friend to us. May God’s peace and comfort be with you during this time of mourning.
Jamie our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I pray that God will wrap his arms around you and walk this journey with you to give you some comfort and peace in the days ahead.
To my Friend. You will be missed. RIP
Jim was an incredible man and someone I Looked up to! He was so strong and compassionate everyday of his life. I feel extremely blessed to have known him. My thoughts and prayers are with the whole family.
Jim was such a great friend to Emory Electric and me personally. He was a huge inspiration to me as he fought this battle; never complaining about his circumstance, never questioning his faith in God. We will miss him immensely and his memory will encourage us as we move forward without him!
Thoughts & prayers for the entire Lewis Family. I had the pleasure of working with Jim & blessed
to be his friend. He will be missed.
Our thoughts & prayers are with each of you during this very difficult time. May God Bless you. RIP, Jim
My heart goes out to you, Jami, and the rest of the family in this time. I used to deal with Jim quite a bit and always found him to be full of life and “spit and vinegar”. Although I have not dealt with him in several years, I have kept up through a mutual friend. Anytime we lose someone like him in our industry, it is a loss for us all. Godspeed and rest well, Jim
Jim and Jami were our neighbors in the Knolls. Awesome couple, Jim you will be missed. Prayers for Jami and family.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Jami and the Lewis family. Jim was an incredible guy and he will be truly missed.
What a man. Jim was a man’s MAN! I grew up, up the street from Jim in West Asheville and knew him from our childhood, but more from his professional life and his personal life. He conducted himself with pride and joy. I never talked with Jim when he wasn’t displaying a positive attitude even when one would have expected different. Jim and I spoke about our Salvation and how exciting it was to know that there were much greater things in store for us when we leave this place on earth and get to heaven. Jim and I promised that which ever one of us got to our Heavenly Father first that we would also tell the others earthly father that we missed them and would see them soon. Guess Jim has told my Dad by now. HOW EXCITING! See you soon Jim.
Jamie,
my sincere condolences for your loss, Jim was a friend and a wonderful person, he will be missed.
Jim was always bigger than life when we were growing up. We lived just up the road from him and spent a lot of time at his house. Riding our bikes and jumping the creek in his backyard. He will be missed
We have been blessed to be part of your family! Even though our time with Jim was short, we are so grateful to have shared a special event in all of our lives. We loved his humor and certainly know that he was a great Dad! Many thoughts & prayers for all!
Thoughts and prayers to all the family. Jim inspired everyone he was around. He poured his life in his business and was very successful by making friends everywhere. He will be missed.
So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. God bless Jamie and family ♥️
So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing and my best wishes to his family. I knew Jimmy and the Lewis family many years ago and I thought the world of the whole family.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Hard to believe we grew up together, and ended up working for the same company in different states. Rest in peace, Jim.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Jim was such a great guy… enjoyed working with him at WESCO and CED.
Joy Sellers Biddix
Jim, had so many Customers who were his Friends, in the Electrical Industry and In Life. I Enjoyed Doing Business with Jim through the years, and being his Friend. Highly Respected and Admired by Many. May God Bless you All
Jim was a great friend and person so sorry for your loss and Prayers for your family he will be missed
Will miss you. We worked together many years and you were a great friend. RIP MY FRIEND. Till I see you again. The Souther Family.
Jerry,Becky,Shannon and Chris