Vernon "Lewis" McLemore

Vernon Lewis McLemore, known to all as Lewis, was born on July 6, 1950 in Muskogee, OK, the only child to John Vernon McLemore and Naoma Thomas McLemore. He entered eternity with his Lord and Savior on March 2, 2023, at his home in Muskogee, after a long battle with cancer. He was 72 years old. After beginning life in Muskogee, Lewis and his parents moved to Tulsa in 1956. He went on to graduate from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa in 1968, and then went briefly to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. On December 10, 1971, he married Phyllis Ann Shaull in Tulsa. He was a manager for Ken’s Pizza in Tulsa, as well as for a trucking company during the years they lived in Seattle, Washington. After returning to the Muskogee area, he and Phyllis were blessed with three sons: James, John, and Jeremy. In May, 1978, Lewis joined the Muskogee Fire Department (IAFF Local 57), reaching the rank of Captain in 1989. During his years as a firefighter, Lewis also owned a maintenance and mowing business, working 80 hr weeks between the two. He began working for the Muskogee City-County Port Authority in 1997 on maintenance and railroad, and he worked this job concurrently with his service as a Muskogee firefighter until his retirement from the fire department in 2003 after 25 years. It was also in 2003 that he became the full-time Operations Manager for the Port Authority. On May 23, 2014, Lewis married Rochelle Sisemore in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He also gained his “little red head girl”, and on November 6, 2020, he adopted Rochelle’s daughter, Whitney Rose. Lewis and Rochelle were members of Boulevard Christian Church in Muskogee. Lewis continued as Operations Manager for the Port of Muskogee until his cancer diagnosis and medical retirement in July of 2021. He was engineer inspector for one of his many projects at the Port through CRS Engineering of Salt Lake City, UT until January 2023 when his health forced him to pass the project on. Lewis was always a devoted son, father, and employee. He took his responsibilities as a provider very seriously. Lewis was know for his organizational skills, and so many benefited from the events he coordinated for the City of Muskogee and the surrounding areas and organizations. Just a few of those at Three Forks Harbor were: Port to Fort Adventure Race, Flower Power Bike Ride, River Rumba, McCoy’s Mud Volleyball, Kid’s Fishing Rodeo, Bass Masters Fishing Tournaments, and numerous other public and private events. He and his colleagues at the Port of Muskogee brought many multi-millions dollar projects to the area, including the design and construction of Three Forks Harbor and The River Center, as well as Dal Tile and the 100 acre flood plain tract development. When he wasn’t working and planning, he valued his quiet time, being a true bibliophile and having hundreds of books downloaded to his Kindle. Most of the time the TV wasn’t even turned on, except if there was a NASCAR race or the Kansas City Chiefs were playing that day. Lewis was preceded in death by his parents, John Vernon and Naoma McLemore; as well as by his beloved cousin, James Dewey Hull. Left to mourn his loss and honor his life are his wife, Rochelle, of the home; daughter, Whitney Silver and her husband Sean of Checotah; stepsons, Clint Miller of Dohlonega, GA and Austin Miller of Tulsa; son, James McLemore of Tulsa; son, John McLemore and wife Anna, along with granddaughters Kailee, Jocelyn, Layla, Emma, and Lucy, all of Broken Arrow; son, Jeremy and granddaughters Hadleigh and Rowan, all of Collinsville; his self-proclaimed “bonus daughter”, Jordan Curtis of Checotah; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who he dearly loved. A family conducted memorial service and life celebration will be at 2PM, Friday, March 10, 2023 at The River Center at Three Forks Harbor. Honorary pallbearers are Scott Robinson, Dave Davis, John Turnbull, John Flusche, John O’Rear, and Fagan Morris. Cremation services provided by Cornerstone Funeral Home, 1830 N York St, Muskogee, OK. Condolences can be made to the family at www.cornerstoneofmuskogee.com

Vernon "Lewis" McLemore

July 6, 1950 - March 2, 2023