Helen Colleen Lewis was born March 15, 1927, in Marble Falls, Texas, to Georgia and Haywood Plunkett. She passed away peacefully Dec. 9, 2013, surrounded by family and friends at Gateway Gardens in Marble Falls.
She was preceded in death by stepson Henry E. Lewis Jr. and stepdaughter, Dixie M. Stoller.
She is survived by half-brother, Barry Tracy and wife Patricia of Cedar Creek; daughter, Phyllis Winn of Austin; stepsons Carroll Ray Lewis and wife Jeanna of Bloomfield, N.M., Brant Lewis and wife Vikie of Weimer and Mark Lewis and wife Sandy of Kingsland; son-in-law, Dan Stoller of Fort Worth; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and dear friends.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Marble Falls and the Marble Falls Chapter #435 Order of the Eastern Star.
She graduated Marble Falls High School as valedictorian in 1944, earned 24 hours at the University of Texas and 80 hours at the U.S. Postal Service Academy.
She had a distinguished 33-year career with the U.S. Post Service, retiring in 1986. She began as a part-time clerk and rose through the ranks, serving as postmaster from 1972 to 1986. During that time, she established city delivery and represented the Postal Service in site selection for a new post office with the Marble Falls City Council for two years. She also was selected to serve as officer-in-charge of the post office in Kingsville during a vacancy there.
She held a real estate broker’s license and served as secretary-treasurer of the Highland Lakes Board of Realtors, 1966-1968; director of the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Postmasters; director of the Marble Falls Water District, 1976-77; director of the Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce, 1976-78, and president, 1977; was named Outstanding Citizen, 1981; served as director of the Hill Country Community Foundation, 1985; and was a member of the Marble Falls Planning and Zoning Commission, 1990. She also was a charter member of the Highland Lakes Service League.
In 1990, she was appointed as municipal judge and served for six years.
She served on the Burnet County Hospital Authority Board numerous years and continued to serve on the Highland Lakes Health Fund Board after the sale of the hospital to the Seton Hospital Network.
Colleen particularly enjoyed her lakeside home and could identify many native birds by sight and sound. She was a keen judge of character and treated people fairly. Never one to mince words, she was witty and fun to be around. Above all, her philosophy of loving life to the fullest, enjoying every moment, inspired all who knew her.
Honorary pallbearers are Wayne Atkinson, Keith Burns, Tommy Houy, Holland Lester, Martin McLean, Griff Morris, Howard Murchison, Cecil Stapleton, Ware Newby, Lee Ussery, all of Marble Falls, and Charlie Gilliam of Austin.
A private burial service will be at Marble Falls City Cemetery, and a memorial service to celebrate her life is 3 p.m. Dec. 15 at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 1805 U.S. 281 North in Marble Falls, (830) 693-4373. Brother Max Copeland will officiate. Visitation is prior to the service at 2 p.m.
The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all of Colleen’s special friends and the wonderful, loving healthcare specialists and caregivers at Gateway Gardens, private caregivers, and Texas Home Health Hospice and Dr. Milton Shepherd.
Instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Women’s Helping Center in Marble Falls or the Marble Falls EMS.
Condolences may be offered at www.clementswilcoxfuneralhome.com.