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Lewis Allen Dearing went to be with his Lord at home on October 14, 2012 at home. Lewis was born Mother"s Day on May 12, 1939 in OKC to Lewis G. and Madalyn Dearing the middle child of five children. He has fought a courageous battle with heart disease for 7 years.
He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Midwest City, OK for 55 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister Joanne McLemore of Fresno, CA and a beloved nephew Michael Widener of Stillwater, OK.
Survivors are his wife of 50 years , Martha Dearing of the home; daughter Lisa Ann and husband Clay Perkins of Sydney, Australia; a brother-in-law Jim Howell and wife Diann of Midwest City, OK; one brother Bill and wife Mary of Midwest City, OK; two sisters, Martha Spann of Tulsa, OK and Barbara Diagle of Midwest City, OK as well as a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and Aunt Nona Dearing of Wewoka, OK, as well as many friends, including his "little guy" "Hooker", an Australian Dingo.
Lewis began his professional career as an 11-year old paperboy throwing the Daily Oklahoman in OKC. Lewis is a 1957 Graduate of Midwest City High School where he lettered in 3 sports and the orchestra where he played trumpet. He studied at UCO for 4 years and acquired 222 hours. He became Assistant Manager of Safeway at 20, Assistant Manager of Dial Finance, OK District Manager of Republic-Vanguard Insurance of Dallas, TX, later, a full-time independent insurance adjuster of all four major insurance companies and worked disasters such as, tornadoes, wind storms, earthquakes as well as hurricanes, including Katrina when he had two heart attacks, 7 blockages and 6 bypasses. He was back climbing roofs in Kansas 3 months later. Once, he broke his ankle and went on to Arkansas work claims. He was one of the top 10 adjusters for USAA and was called "Rocky". He worked claim all over America and Canada, even in 35 below zero. Martha retired from teaching to go with Lewis as his "helper" for 16 years. They became a team and he paid her $5 a day whether she earned it or not. In 1979, he was appointed Honorary Deputy Insurance Commissioner by the State of Oklahoma. He was mentor to many young insurance adjusters over 40 years.
Lewis and his parents owned Dearing Reports, a realty business. He went to realty school with his Dad so his Dad wouldn"t have to go alone. Lewis, Martha owned L and M Recovery, and had a blast working with/and for his niece Julie and husband John Cornell.
He loved putting "people back on their feet"! He wore many different hats and had various names: Sonny Boy, Uncle Sonny, Uncle Lido, Al Lewis, Rocky, Captain America and Lew Babe.
Lewis has been an active member of FBCMWC for 55 years and was saved at age 9, baptized at Crestwood Baptist Church were his mother was the hostess. He loved the Lord and loved to serve him and with whom he has had many talks, especially these last few weeks. He told Martha, when she asked for him to stay a little while longer, that "when God calls you home, you have to go"and I"m ready. God has already done his work in me." He enjoyed being in the Majestic Voices Choir as well as playing his trumpet in the church orchestra next to Vicki. He loved his church family, especially the Fuquay Class and Cornerstone, who have supported him and Martha through their 50 years of marriage. They renewed their vows in front of the choir and when asked if they took each other for the next 50, they responded, "I reckon so!" Martha told him she loved him and she"d do it all over again.
They were married right here on this altar on April 19, 1962 by C Murray Fuquay and 10 years later dedicated their 5 week-old daughter Lisa Ann to the Lord. One of the proudest moments of his life was to hold Lisa for the first time in his arms. At last he was a proud Daddy!
Lewis was in the first 45th Oklahoma National Guard Band/Orchestra and played trumpet at Governor Bellmon"s Inauguration, for General Affairs, and Taps at many military services. His trumpet is the first he ever had in the 8th grade. He loves music and very proud to say that his second cousin was Jack Teagarten who had his own orchestra and played in Louis Armstrong"s Jazz Band.
Lewis was also on the first wrestling team at MWCHS, along with Don Colston as Ed Jacobsen coached them. Don and Maurice Severson blocked for him so he could make touchdowns! He always said that that"s why their hips and knees went out before his. Lewis loved sports, skiing (water & snow), racing cars at MARCAR events at the Fairground Speedway. The first time Martha ever attended a race, he flipped his car 5 times in the turn, got out and waved to her to let her know he was ok. Hid Dad was his pit crew! He didn"t take snow skiing lessons but raced down the mountain head first and the only thing that stopped him was the orange netting and hay bales flying up in the air.
He became a pilot and during his SOLO flight had to make an emergency landing because many of the instruments, like the little compass and the speaker went out. He called his instructor in OKC and told him he was a "little" off course and the instructor nearly fainted because he thought he said he "landed on a golf course"!
He loved to fish, especially with his mother-in-law, Lena Howell, and built her a dock out on Shawnee Lake so the chiggers wouldn"t get her. At the age of 72, with two broken toes taped together, he ran the 100 meter race in the Senior Olympics and won a 3rd place medal. His nephew Mark Howell called his Uncle Lido " "a man"s man" but Martha"s glad he liked her more.
Lewis just attended his 55th class Reunion from MWCHS. The class of "57. He enjoyed going to Martha"s Wewoka Reunions too and would never cover his nametag and walk up to her classmates and say: "Bet you don"t remember me!" When he meets Jesus face to face he"ll probably say " "Bet you don"t remember me" and the Lord will say " "OH YES I DO LEWIS ALLEN DEARING " YOU"RE CAPTAIN AMERICA, I"ve been softly and tenderly calling your name. Welcome home!!!" There are so many sweet family and friends to thank for your love and support.
You know how special you have been to Lewis and Martha through the years and the happiness you have brought to them as a couple. They have loved you back and hope that that was enough.
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