Connie (Garza) Lewis, 76, of Celeste passed away peacefully at her home on May 21, 2020. Visitation will be Thursday, May 28, 2020, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.  A private rosary will be held on Friday, May 29, 2020, followed by a private Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Commerce, Texas with Father Marcus Chidozie Officiating. A graveside service will be held on Friday at 1:30 P.M. Hogeye cemetery.

 She devoted her life to raising a loving family, caring for the sick and cheering for the Celeste Blue Devils.

 Connie was born January 15, 1944 in Dallas Texas, to Benedict Victor and Josephine

(Rodriguez) Garza. She attended W.W. Samuel High School and was part of the Catholic Youth

Organization, Latin Club and Drill Team.

A lifelong Roman Catholic, she was called to minister to those in need as a registered nurse for

40 years. She graduated from St. Paul’s School of Nursing in 1964 and continued her career

working there for 14 years. After St. Paul’s, Connie worked at Doctor’s Hospital off Garland Rd

and Park Haven Nursing Home. Once moved to Celeste, Texas,, Connie spent 26 years at

Greenville Regional Hospital, with the last 10 years spent serving in the Endoscopy department.

Connie retired in 2002.

On September 24, 1965, she married the love of her life, Michael Truett Lewis, and together they 

raised eight children. She found her true passion cheering her kids through life as she was

their number one fan who never missed an elementary, junior high, high school, college, or life

event.

In 1999, Connie and Mike were inducted into the Celeste Hall of Fame for their devotion to the

Celeste Booster Club for 19 years. With great enthusiasm, Connie cheered baskets,

touchdowns, home runs and goals whether they were scored by her children or someone else.

As long as Celeste schools were playing, it was a great game and Connie’s greatest joy.

Connie is survived by her husband, Michael Truett Lewis, as well as her eight children and their

spouses, Michael Truett Lewis II and wife Lisa; Maria Theresa Barnett and husband Jonathan;

Matthew Timothy Lewis and wife Shayla; Marina Tara Reichert and husband Ronnie; Martin

Thomas Lewis; Marlo Tierra Paris and husband Paul Paris III; Marcella Toyah Jenkins and

husband Jimmy; Meaghan Tracie Hodapp and husband Patrick. She will be missed by her

grandchildren: Avery Ann Lewis, Austin Cole Lewis, Celeste Michelle Cornett, Remington

Chance Barnett, Cooper Samuel Barnett, Elise Claire Barnett, Morgan Cassidy Lewis, Matthew

Caden Lewis, Benjamin Thomas Lewis, Brandon Andrew Lewis, Madilyn Mae Paris, Norah

Anne Paris, Josephine Grace Jenkins, Julia Genevieve Jenkins, Jace Gavin Jenkins, Jessica

Gem Jenkins, Jaxon Glenn Jenkins, Jett Gunner Jenkins, Collin Patrick Hodapp and Cole Ethan

Hodapp plus one great-grandchild, Kyler Grazia Shelton. She also leaves behind her sister

Anne Marie (Garza) Mitchell, her niece, Mary Ann Mogavero, many more nieces/nephew, plus

several cousins and very close friends.

In lieu of flowers, Connie has requested that donations be made to:

● Patient Access Network, PO Box 76408 Baltimore, MD 21275-6408

( www.panfoundation.org/donate ),

● Parkinson’s Foundation 200 SE First Street, Ste 800 Miami, FL 33131

( www.parkinsons.org ),

● Hunt Regional Healthcare, 4215 Joe Ramsey Blvd. Greenville, Texas 75401

( www.huntregional.org )

● Celeste Athletic Booster Club (In Memory of Connie Lewis) PO Box 13 Celeste, Texas

75423 ( www.celesteisd.org )

● St. Joseph Catholic Church College Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 832, Commerce, Texas

75428 ( www.stjoetx.net )

● St. Williams Catholic Church General Building Fund, 4300 Stuart Street, Greenville,

Texas 75401 ( www.stwilliamtheconfessor.org )

Connie loved each and every person she encountered. She was a genuinely beautiful person

inside and out and will truly be missed, but not forgotten.

We are requesting that you limit the size of the gathering during the viewing due to concerns regarding the current health crisis.  Please feel free to come and pay your respects but limit your contact with others as per recommended guidelines from the CDC.