It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Lewis J. Storey, born on January 6, 1931, in Sesser, Illinois, the son of Louis Jackson Story and Bessie Elizabeth (Mitchell) Story, who passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 6:50 pm in Centralia, Illinois, surrounded by his family.He married Nancy (Cremer) Storey and she preceded him in death in 1961. He later married Frances Marie (Evans) Storey on February 5, 1963, in Benton, IL and she preceded him in death on March 5, 2008, after 45 years of marriage.He is survived by five children: Judy Sutherland and husband Mike of Centralia, Belinda Hopkins and husband Dale of Anchorage, AK, Rhonda Mattson and husband Craig of Walnut Hill, Jim Storey and wife Vicky of Walnut Hill, and Donna Nunnally and husband Dave of Bethalto; 10 grandchildren: Amanda (Sutherland) Ponyi and husband Floyd of Centralia, John Sutherland and Fiance Ashleigh Lacey of Centralia, Braelyn, and Kalob Hopkins of Anchorage, AK, Andy Sisson and wife Michelle of Centralia, Nancy Riebeling and husband Adam of St. Louis, MO, Gary Mattson of Walnut Hill, Kelsey Storey of Mt. Vernon, Kevin Teitsort and wife Leah Ann of Paducah, KY, and Kurtis Teitsort and wife Linda of Salem, 16 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.Lewis was preceded in death by his parents: Louis and Bessie Story; wife Frances Storey, his siblings: Goldie Hazel Story Reiger, Robert ‘Bob’ Houston Story, Lucille Marie Story, Effie Evelyn Story Watkins, James ‘Lum’ Leroy Story, Viola Louise Story Kearney Werlinger, Charles ‘Charlie’ Bill William Irvin Story, and Pat ‘Storm’ Lonzo Storey; and several nieces and nephews.Lewis known by his family and friends, “Louie” or “Long John”, was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend to many.
He was a hardworking man who started working at the age of 13. He worked for Western Union during WWII delivering telegrams and as a paper carrier in Centralia. He later went to work for the railroad in Waltonville, where he helped build the Railroad Tressel on the Waltonville Blacktop and ran the Sperry in the coal mine. After that, he went to St. Louis, where he worked for the American Tin Foil Manufacturing Company for a short time. He decided to move back to Sesser and worked until he decided to move to Chicago for a new start at life at various factory jobs and bought his first home in Beecher. He later moved back to Junction City, IL. In 1971 he bought his ‘Farm’in Odin where he raised his five children. He lived there for over 51 years. He taught all of his family how to work hard, build fences, take care of farm animals, and garden. He was an avid fisherman and loved to hunt for squirrels and rabbits in his younger years. He built a simple life for his family. He can also be remembered for managing Louie’s LePaul gas station in Centralia for 13 years. After LePaul’s he worked at Hillcrest Memorial Park for over 27 years mowing 50+ acres weekly to the young age of 88.We would like to give our sincere appreciation to Marie Hixenbaugh for the care you showed him for over two years.
You can never sum up someone’s life in an obituary it’s the Dash in the middle of your life that counts. This is not goodbye this is ‘see you later’.Funeral Services for Lewis J. Storey will be held Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 11:00 am at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home in Centralia, Illinois with Pastor Steve Upchurch officiating. A Visitation for family and friends will be held Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, in honor of Lewis, memorial donations may be made to the Care fund for Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery for the upkeep of the cemetery in honor of his legacy for the hard work and dedication he had for many years. The Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street in Centralia, Illinois 62801, with the family and staff are honored to be taking care of one of our own. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com or the Funeral Home’s Facebook page.
