John “Bob” R. Lewis, Jr.

John R. (Bob) Lewis, Jr., went Home to be with his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ and family & friends on February 11, 2017. Graveside Service: 2 PM, Wednesday in Greenwood Memorial Park, Fort Worth. Visitation: 6-8 PM, Tuesday at Wiley Funeral Home. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be expressed in the form of donations to the charity of choice or to Acton United Methodist Church/Rancho Brazos.
Bob was born November 25, 1930 in Harris Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas to the late John R. Lewis Sr. & Frances Pollard Lewis. He graduated from North Side High School, Class of ’48. He continued his education, undergraduate studies at Sul Ross University, Alpine, Texas and Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma A&M at that time) graduating from Sul Ross, then doing graduate studies at Oklahoma State University. Bob worked on local ranches at Cresson, Aledo and North Fort Worth. This ranching and livestock background was undeniable information with which to pursue his chosen field in Animal Nutrition and Management. He worked for Swift & Co as an apprentice Cattle Buyer for 6 years in Fort Worth, but as the Stockyards began to diminish in size and need, he began an occupation in the feed business with Moorman Manufacturing Company. Bob married Linda Liles in 1960 and from this union, a son was born, John Robert Lewis III. Into this family, Linda brought a son from a previous marriage, Ray Lanham Grimes, whom Bob raised as his own. Bob began in field sales for Moorman Manufacturing Co. providing product and management services to dairies, ranches and pork operations in both Parker and Hood Counties where he quickly moved into the top 100 salesmen out of 1500 plus and remained there for 6 of his eight years as a salesman. In 1968 he was promoted and began a “pilot program” for Moorman’s called the Feedlot Nutritionist Program. This program became extremely successful; at his retirement, there were 11 nutritionists serving the feedlot and ranching industry all over the West. He continued in this capacity as Senior Nutritionist until his retirement providing nutrition and management services to feedlots and large ranches in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Mexico. The night of Bob’s retirement in 1993, Moorman’s offered him the first independent consultant’s contract ever for Moorman’s. Bob worked in this capacity until December 31, 1998, at which time he fully retired. Bob was often kidded by friends in the business as one of the few guys to retire more than once. He enjoyed the outdoors, golf, fishing, hunting, yard work (when time allowed), rodeo, roping and riding cutting horses (that was fun, but it was time to earn a living). Linda, his wife, suffered a severe stroke in May of 1998 and spent the next five years confined to a wheelchair in their home until her death in mid-2003. He married a long-time acquaintance, Bobbie Slocum, in May 2004; she had been widowed from Dub Slocum who was Bob’s roommate at Oklahoma State and a long time rancher friend from the Cresson area. Bobbie brought into this marriage; two beautiful daughters whom Bob claims are “his bonus daughters.” Bob and Bobbie have shared great vacation trips to Canada, Alaska, Colorado, most of the Western States, Branson, Hot Springs and also the New England area. They have resided in DeCordova Bend Estates and enjoy the evenings on the lake watching the water fowl and activities on the lake and occasionally enjoying a glass of wine. Bob was a member of the Acton United Methodist Church where he served as an usher, helping with the collection plate, greeting and seating guests; he also completed a seven year Bible Study with Bible Study Fellowship. Bob was a member of the Plains Nutrition Council, American Academy of Science, American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, Moorman’s Beef Task Force, National Cutting Horse Association and Western Nutrition Conference. He served on the board of Directors of Tascosa Country Club in Amarillo and has served on many committees at DeCordova Bend Country Club and was secretary treasurer of the member guest golf tournament at DeCordova Bend Country Club known as the Club Benders for four consecutive years in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
Survivors: Sons, Ray Grimes, John R. Lewis, III and wife, Wendy; grandchildren, Linsye Taylor and husband, Chad, Jenny Wesson and husband, Taite, Ryan Sessums and wife, Miranda, Shelby Isam and husband, John; great-grandchildren, Ada Taylor, Lanham Wesson, Layla, Colton and Luke Sessums, Delilah Spiars, and Case and Wyatt Isam.