Lew left us on Labor Day morning. It has been a mixture of tears and laughter the last few days trying to figure out what it is I want to say about him. I have so many good good memories that are helping to cope with his loss.
They say you can’t choose your family, but I got lucky with all of mine, including Lew Jones, who was my stepfather for 33 years. Lew was definitely different… .. but in a good way! He always treated me like his daughter. Most people knew him from his time as owner of the Mineshaft Restaurant, but for me he was a problem solver, like most dad’s are.
Whether it was a temporary fix for a roofleak, or setting mouse traps and disposing the remains, he always wanted to help me however he could. I remember one time he got really angry at a quote I got to fix my car. He got in his truck, drove to the auto repair shop and towed my car away, to the restaurant parking lot, where it remained until he found another place to take it. Lew was that kind of person. He gave me a job, not my first, but most memorable. I was pretty shy, just out of college, and he thought I could use some experience dealing with the public, as a waitress. He was right.
Lew was a good example of”you can’t judge a book by it’s cover.” In Camp Creek there was a college student staying in a cabin while she finished her PhD atASU. She was Japanese-American, and one day he spotted her outside. He walked over to greet and welcome her in Japanese! I knew what she was thinking- “who is this disheveled looking man in the grubby overalls, and how does he know how to speak Japanese?!” He also knew some Russian. Both languages he learned while serving in the Air Force.
Lew was extremely smart with a North Carolina drawl. We had lots of discussions over the years about what was happening in the world. Some could get quite heated. I think he appreciated that you had your own view or opinion, but you had better be prepared to defend it, and, intelligently, not emotionally!
Lew dressed casually with suspenders and jeans or overalls that often got dirty because he was always working on something. He was well traveled, well read, and open minded.
Lew disliked profanity. There was a sign he had made to hang behind the bar that said “No profanity please! Profanity is the linguistic crutch of an inarticulate asshole.” Ha Ha. He threatened to “86” anyone that would not stop cursing at the bar.
Lew had a dry sense of humor, and I think he got a kick out of saying something for the shock value, to make you laugh.
Lew loved music and often sang out loud. He had a giant jar of plastic kazoos that he would bring out sometimes, and get the whole room to play along to a song on the jukebox. He chose most of the music on the jukebox at the Mineshaft. It was an eclectic mix of music, from the 1930’s-1990’s.
Lew had a soft spot for people down on their luck. He often gave people loans. Some paid him back, some did not. I know of one time in particular he gave someone money so that they could attend their father’s funeral that was in another country.
Lew opened the restaurant for a lot of the holidays, for people that might not have family or anywhere to go for a meal. There would be a free buffet, but if anyone wanted to, they could drop a donation in the local food bank donation jar.
Lew loved old automobiles because he knew how to work on them.
Lew could have a gruff, serious demeanor , but he could also be incredibly silly, dancing under the disco ball or acting in a skit for the Gong Show.
It was so difficult to see his health deteriorating the last two years. When I would go over to visit he’d say “it’s always good to see you, hon.”
He will be missed.
It was always good to see you too, Lew, and I’m glad you no longer feel “shot at and missed, sh*t at and hit.” Rest in piece.
Holly
email
