Russell Weller Lewis Jr.

Russell Weller Lewis, Jr.

Funeral services for Russell Weller Lewis, Jr. will be held 2:00 PM, Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013 at the Midway Hill Baptist Church with Pastor Willard McCartney, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow at the Oaklawn Cemetery in Sulphur.

Russell was born on Dec 18, 1941 in Granite, OK to the late Dr. Russell & Betty (Zellman) Lewis. He died Saturday, Jan 5, 2013 in Oklahoma City, at the age of 71 years and 17 days. Russell and Murlene Oakley were married on Jun 13, 1967 in Reno, NV.

Russell moved to Sulphur at the age of ten. He was a 1959 graduate of Sulphur High School. He joined the US Army in 1967 and was stationed in Germany for some time. Russell, because of his brother-in-law, H.C. Rackley, became interested in trucks. This interest led him to become a truck driver. He spent several years hauling cattle for Rackley Cattle Co and working as trucking supervisor for Dolese Brothers and Joe Brown Trucking.

Although trucking was his life, Russell became intrigued with an idea of transporting hazardous waste. After spending much time studying, Russell presented his thoughts and ideas of transporting hazardous waste to U.S. Pollution Control and the Union Pacific Railway. With combined efforts of these two companies and this truck driver from Sulphur, OK, Russell designed and implemented the first hauling of hazardous waste via the railway systems. His new found career moved him from Oklahoma to Kansas to Utah to Texas and back home to Oklahoma when he retired. Throughout his career in Railway Transportation, Russell received great recognitions, acknowledgments and awards including the Diamond Drop Award for five consecutive years. This award was given in recognition of 100% Accident Free Rail Miles.

Russell was a hard-working man, who found work to be his hobby. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing a round or two of golf, especially if he could get Murlene or Trey to play him. With these two, he always felt he had a chance to win. Just like most men, his family was the greatest of all his enjoyments. He loved spending time with each of them, especially his grandsons.

Survivors include his wife, Murlene; son, Russell Weller “Trey” Lewis, III of Mooreland, OK; two grandsons, Klayton Kache Lewis & wife Amy and their son, Tripp Klay Lewis, of Mooreland and Kegan Kard Lewis & wife Jezzni of Woodward, OK; his first expected great-granddaughter, Jemma Blake Lewis; brother, David Allen Lewis & wife Millie; sister Donna Sue Gilstrap & husband Jody; brother-in-law, H.C. Rackely & wife JoAnn; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Russell was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Bobbie Bristol, Betsy Stephens & Debbie Lewis; brother, Billy Tom Lewis; and grandson, Russell Weller Lewis, IV.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jimmy Rackley, H.C. Rackley, Jr., Larry Poteet, Roy Wayne Blevins, Toby Blevins and Dawell Blevins.

1/8/2013
09:00 AM
07:00 PM
Visitation
Hale's Funeral Home
202 South 4th Street
Sulphur
OK




1/9/2013
02:00 PM

Funeral
Midway Hill Baptist Church

Sulphur
OK