Carroll Edwin Lewis

CARROLL EDWIN LEWIS SEPTEMBER 11, 1928 – JANUARY 3, 2024 Carroll Edwin Lewis was born September 11, 1928 to Oliver Biederman Lewis and Martha Wynona Reynolds Lewis in Meridian, Mississippi. Carroll relocated from Meridian with his family that included his brothers, Lamar and Reynolds, to Citra, Florida, as a teenager. There his father owned and maintained personal orange groves and ran the local factory that constructed the wooden shipping crates for the local orange growers. As an eight year old boy Carroll had a job driving the old milk truck for the local dairy. The dairy owner attached a large wood block to the gas pedal so that he could reach it. He would drive and there was another little boy who would hang onto the back of the truck to pick up the empties and deliver the fresh milk. As he got a little older he was promoted to attaching the milking hoses to the dairy cows at five o’clock in the morning before going to school. Carroll was raised in a time where every family member pitched in and helped in any way they could. His integrity began at this time of his life and never left him. After completing his tour in the Navy as a Frogman, Carroll earned his Business degree from Stetson University with his GI Bill. His character shone through at college where he served as President of the Student Body, President Sigma Phi Epsilon, President Junior Class Men’s Council, President Student Body Scabbard and Blade, Member of I.F.C. and finally Who’s Who as Outstanding Senior. Becoming a Frogman was not a great leap for Carroll as his love of adventure and excitement was part of who he was. In his younger days he raced speed boats until his wife made him quit as he had four children. Later he took the Maritime exam to become a boating captain for the safety of his family and friends when he purchased his first Class 2 boat, The WireBender. He also had an avid interest in flying and obtained his pilot's license. He met his future wife, Jeannine Ellis Mann, while living in Citra. He told her that if she could wait for him to graduate college he would marry her. Carroll came back to Citra after graduation and did just that. They moved to Jacksonville, Florida and together they raised four children, Bart, Sherri, Buddy and Bill. Upon getting his feet wet in the managerial world in Jacksonville, Florida an opportunity came his way and he moved his family to Ocala, Florida. Carroll worked for Hotpoint, (now Hotpoint Appliances) as a manager, which at the time manufactured range hoods for stoves. Carroll met George Crawford in the business world and George’s wife, Louise, was the inventor of Cake Mate premade cake decorations created from hardened frosting. As sales increased for her, she needed a way to display her products. Carroll had manufacturing experience and George had ship welding experience so together they came up with a wire display for her. He and George started a small manufacturing plant to make the stands for her. They named it Southeastern Manufacturing Company or SEMCO. Eventually Betty Crocker bought the business from Louise, however; the stands became popular and evolved into peg hooks for peg board, end cap racks, spinning display stands and much more. They also had many custom racks designed for specific customers, such as bike helmet displays for Toys R Us. SEMCO grew to employ hundreds of people in Ocala and ran 24 hours a day, seven days a week for many years. Carroll was always involved in the betterment of his family and his community. He truly loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He served as President for a term with the Elks Club and continued to remain a member. He was very good about taking his daughter Sherri to the Elk’s Father/Daughter dance and for the Christmas program for needy children. He taught all of his children compassion for others and for the community in this way. He taught his children to give back, and that has continued through all of his wonderful grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a very big role model for his grandson William Lewis and his granddaughter Lindsey Lewis Crabb in their formative years and beyond. His compassion and true moral compass was a guiding light. His office at SEMCO overlooked a conference room and his grandchildren would come there after school to complete their homework. Grandpa was famous for sneaking candy to the kids under his daughter’s nose who was working right down the hallway. He was very active in the Boy Scouts of America with all of his sons. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a very active supporter of The Boys and Girls Club of Ocala. Carroll and Sherri also helped support the Hillcrest Academy by hiring their students to perform projects, such as stuffing envelopes for a large mailings for SEMCO, to assist the school. In the early years of SEMCO, Carroll traveled a great deal to secure business and he would also attend trade shows for like-minded business owners. During these trade shows Carroll met Roger Gladden and Larry Crabbe of Leggett and Platt Industries out of Carthage, Missouri. Roger and Larry ran separate divisions of Leggett and Platt, but both divisions tied in to the trade shows. They formed a fast friendship that lasted many years and extended into many fishing excursions, earning Carroll the name “Captain”. This friendship led Carroll to eventually sell his business to Leggett and Platt while remaining best friends with Roger and Larry until the end of his days. They truly were “The Three Amigos." Carroll continued to expand his business potential in banking, real estate ventures and lastly, developed the Kubota Dealership with Jacques and Dana Ford into a multi-location business before selling it in 2022. Carroll became friends with Jacques and Dana through a real estate transaction involving the purchase of a home for his daughter and grandchildren. They became business partners in many real estate ventures and remained true friends to the end. After the passing of his first wife, Carroll married Jackie Mann, who has been a loving wife to him for the past twenty one years. He also increased his family with Jackie’s children, Dwight Mann (deceased) and Kim Stephens, a truly wonderful daughter. Carroll and Jackie also had a seasonal second home in Conifer, Colorado to be in his beloved mountains and close to Kim and her family as well. Spending time watching the deer from his living room window with Jackie and the puppies was his favorite retirement activity. Another was exploring the neighboring towns around Conifer to see what was out there. Carroll has had many accomplishments in his life, but the greatest feature he had was if he ever met you then he was your friend, unless you gave him a reason not to be. But even that was a very long rope. He was known for his kindness and true generosity, whether in spirit or by action. He helped many people over the years for their betterment, asking nothing in return. Carroll stayed involved with his alma mater, Stetson University, and provided a trust for tuition payment for deserving students. He had the University instruct the students to write to the school explaining their circumstances and the reason for wanting to attend Stetson University. Many students graduated due to his kindness. He also helped to support the Gillespie Geology Museum on campus for students interested in the subject as he was. Carroll loved his family and his friends above all else. A close second was fishing and hunting with his boys and his buddies. A Sunday afternoon watching “The Bridge Over the River Kwai” or any John Wayne action film with his daughter Sherri was a favorite pastime. A large bowl of ice cream made him very happy and cherries on top made it perfect. Carroll had a life well lived and was truly loved. His love and guidance will be sorely missed by us all. SURVIVED BY: Loving wife: Jackie C. Lewis Daughter: Sherri D. Lewis Daughters by Marriage: Step-daughter Kim L. Stephens, Daughter-In-Law Sandy K. Elliott Grandchildren: Keith R. Reagan (Clara), William C. Lewis, Lindsey D. (Lewis) Crabb (Stanton), Blake A. Elliott (Jennifer), Joseph D. Elliott, Tristan A. Stephens, Anna G. Magar (Dylan), Rocky Grinvalds (Jennifer) Great Grandchildren: Joseph E. Reagan, Elsie M. Crabb, Edwin L. Crabb, Isabella J. Elliott Nephews: Joseph Lewis (from brother Lamar), Richard Lewis (Judy), Eddie Lewis (Beth), Mark Lewis (Lori) (from brother Reynolds) Niece: Susan Lewis (Herman Payo) (from brother Lamar) PREDECEASED BY: Loving wife:Jeannine M. Lewis Sons:Victor Bartlett (Bart) Lewis, Carroll Edwin (Buddy) Lewis, Jr., William Charles (Bill) Lewis (Sandra Lewis Elliott) Brothers: Lamar Lewis (Hazel, deceased), Reynolds Lewis (Betty, deceased) Parents: Oliver Biederman Lewis and Martha Wynona Reynolds Lewis Nephews: Russell (Rusty) Lewis (from brother Lamar), Robert (Bobby) Lewis (from brother Reynolds) Grandchildren: Mallory Reagan (from Keith and Clara Reagan) Great Grandchildren: Olivia Lewis (from William C. Lewis) In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you make a donation to one of Carroll‘s favorite charities: Christians for World Peace: christiansforworldpeace.com Post Office Box 3300 Joplin, MO 64803 Boys and Girls Club of America: bgca.org Boy Scouts of America: https://donations.scouting.org/#/national

Carroll Edwin Lewis

September 11, 1928 - January 3, 2024