Barbara Jean (Sexton) Lewis

Barbara Jean Lewis          

August 7, 1939  ~ June 22, 2026

Barbara Lewis was born in Reed, Kansas on August 8, 1939, to Leo and Ruby (Marks) Sexton. She passed away June 22, 2026, from complications of multiple cancerous masses, with her family by his side. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband of 42 years Lou (Elmer), her brother Ronny, and her daughter Lisa Clayton. She is survived by her son Bill, 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Her family left Kansas when she was a small child looking for work and ended up in Newport, Oregon eventually moving to Portland. She started working at Montgomery Wards and worked her way up to Shipping coordinator before the company closed down in 1983. During this time, she also met the love of her life Lou Lewis.  They were married August 3rd, 1974.  Barb always said that God knew how much she wanted to be a mother and Lou had two children, Lisa and Bill that needed mothering.

Barbara then went to work for Liberty Mutual where she became the accounting manager until retirement. Through Lou, she was involved with the ILWU pensioners for over 30 years. She was a constant with the organization holding many officer board positions through the years.

Barbara and Lou loved to travel and took many trips abroad and in the states.   A trip to Australia and New Zealand as a guest of the Australian Maritime Union was one of the many highlights of her travels abroad. Cruises were something she really enjoyed. The avid animal lover, Barbara had a mural of pictures of her holding everything from baby Kangaroos, kissing dolphins, or giant lizards. Every summer she looked forward to taking his grandchildren who lived in Portland on vacations at the beach and each one on a cruise for their 12th birthday.

Barbara was always volunteering her time with the longshoremen pensioner program, Kiwanis club, and women’s group at Bethel Baptist. She loved using her skills of accounting and record keeping to better these organizations.  She chaired 3 major Longshoremen Pensioner Conventions. She organized flights, hotel accommodations, meeting agendas, exciting activities and tours for over 100 retirees. For her efforts she was the first ever female recipient of the Strohm’s pensioner outstanding Service Award.

Barb was very creative.  She painted, wrote for newsletters, made up songs and loved to laugh.  She often spoke of how she thanked God every night for her family and such a wonderful life.  She really lived life to the fullest and was known for her positive outlook.

 A memorial service will be held from 1:00 to on June 26, 2026, at Riverview Abbey, 319 S. Taylors Ferry Rd. Portland, OR.

Please do not send flowers - please donate to Oregon Humane Society.

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