Luther Earl Lewis, 98, of Morehead City, North Carolina, peacefully crossed over into his eternal life on May 14, 2026.

There will be a graveside service at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 24th at 2 p.m. at Gethsemane Memorial Park officiated by Rev. Patrick Whaley, Associate Pastor of First Methodist Church. A celebration of life will be on July 17, 2026, which would have been his 99th birthday. Those details will be shared once finalized.

Earl Lewis was born on July 17, 1927, in the Promise Land of Morehead City, NC where he met and married the love of his life Kay Maxine Lewis. He was a proud veteran of WWII, serving in the US Army Central Intelligence Group, stationed in Heidelberg, Germany.

After returning home he attended Biltmore School of Photography and freelanced. He also worked for Southern Life Insurance Co. before starting his lifelong career with Belk Department store as a manager for 42 years. He was responsible for growing Belk from a small downtown store to a larger facility in the Morehead Plaza then to transforming Belk to an even larger store at its present location in Cyprus Bay. He received a number of accolades from the Belk Group for outstanding store production.

Earl and his wife of 73 years, Maxine Lewis, were faithful members of Parkview Baptist Church until they become homebound and enjoyed Deacon and Pastors visits. He served his church in many capacities. He loved his Lord.

He also loved and served his community well. He was a member of the Evening Rotary and served as President and received the coveted Paul Harris Award as well as Rotarian of the Year. He also received the award for 60 years of Perfect Attendance. When spending time atop his beloved mountain, he was an honorary member of the Hillsville Rotary, Hillsville, VA. He served on the Board of Directors for Centura Bank. He was also a member of the Morehead City Chamber of Commerce serving as President. He proudly worked with the NC Governor, at the time, to help to establish the Crystal Coast Visitor Center. He received three citations from the State of NC for outstanding community work. He was a pillar of the community. He rightfully received the” Key to the City” on two different occasions.

He was a loving and devoted husband, father, son, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many.

Earl leaves behind his loving daughter, affectionately described as his “number one” daughter, Linda Lewis Spencer Jolly. He was an adoring grandfather to Jennifer Spencer, Marvin Spencer, Andrea Lewis, Justine Lewis, Brandon Todd and step grandfather to Jeanne Jolly McLean and husband Todd. He was also a loving great grandfather to Genevieve Spencer, Violet Gibbs, Isabella Spencer, James Lyon McLean, Alice La Roque McLean, and Martha Jeanne Jolly, Gentry Jolly and Edward Jolly, along with their mother Caroline. Earl was also Pop-Pop to Louis and Aynsley Spencer and their children, Aliza, Graham, and Ellery.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Kay Maxine Lewis; parents, Watson and Lessie Lewis; son, Luther Earl Lewis Jr.; son-in-law, Jack Spencer; granddaughter, Sarah Curtis; son-in-law, Frank Jolly III; and step grandson, Frank M. Jolly IV.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Parkview Baptist Church 4738 Arendell St. Morehead City, NC or SECU Crystal Coast Hospice House, P.O. Box 640, Newport, NC.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.