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John Bell Lewis, who died March 28 at the age of 87, was a lifelong learner and doer. He could always be found with a book in hand reading or doing someone’s tax returns or their bookkeeping. He was a teacher by trade but could do many things professionally.

Lewis was one of three sons of Clarence and Ola Nidiffer Lewis. A brother, C.H., preceded him in death, and a younger brother, Richard, was also a teacher.

Richard remembers his brother as someone who looked out for him. “He was always good to me. I remember during my last year of college, he helped me financially with my tuition and in other ways. He was always looking out for me,” he shared.

Lewis began his teaching career at Buladeen School in 1956, and from there to the one-room school at Blue Springs. When that school closed, Lewis was transferred to Unaka Elementary, where he taught the remainder of his career — 37 years total. “He taught so many students during his teaching career, and he still remembered most of them. During his later teaching years, he taught the seventh and eighth grade,” his brother shared.

When Lewis wasn’t teaching, he enjoyed reading. “He always had a book close by. He also enjoyed sports, and watched the Tennessee Vols, Atlanta Braves and NASCAR on television.”

In addition to his teaching career, Lewis also worked as a bookkeeper and tax advisor to many individuals and businesses. “He was always helping people. He helped a lot of people with their income taxes and worked at Farm Bureau for many years, helping people with their tax returns,” said Richard.

“John was a very kind-hearted and generous person. He would help anyone, and often did. He was always there for me. During his latter years — and even when he was younger — he did not have the best of health, but he stayed busy and kept going as long as he could,” shared Richard.

Richard said his brother enjoyed traveling but didn’t go to a lot of places. “He went to Florida a few times, to Nashville, and a few times to Knoxville to watch the Vols play. He viewed most ballgames from his chair in front of the TV,” Richard shared.

Lewis was one that took his faith seriously. He began his faith journey at Stoney Creek Baptist Church, and when Unaka Baptist Church was organized, he became a charter member. When he married, Lewis went to Dungan Chapel Baptist Church with his wife, Mary, who preceded her husband in death. In his later years, he attended his home church — Stoney Creek Baptist.

“John was a Christian and he enjoyed worshiping and fellowshipping with other believers and friends. My brother loved the Lord, and he loved people. He would help anybody. He was that kind of person,” said Richard.

John was the father of a daughter, Joyce Salyer, and had two grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

At his funeral, many of his pallbearers were former students, who remember the time they spent in his classroom and the friendship they enjoyed with him after school.

Marketta Peters, a former student, wrote on the funeral home memoriam page: “He was my teacher in the eighth grade, and he also did my taxes. We remained friends over the years.”

To so many, he not only was their teacher when they were younger but proved himself a wonderful friend in their later life.

Teaching was a career for John Bell Lewis and was one of the ways he made a living, but he also made a difference in the lives of many children, some of whom went on to become teachers.

John Bell Lewis was laid to rest March 31 at Happy Valley Memorial Park, but he will long be remembered by friends and former students.