Lewis Barefield

LEWIS ALLEN BAREFIELD, 92, of Little Rock died Nov. 19, 2015. He was born May 4, 1923 at Mineral Springs to the late Clarence Hamilton and Ester Lena (nee Hicks) Barefield. He was a graduate of Mineral Springs High School and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, receiving a degree in general agriculture in 1949. He completed post-graduate studies at Texas A&M University and the University of Kentucky. While still in college, Lewis began a career with the Arkansas State Plant Board that would span 39 years, serving variously as field inspector, seed analyst, microscopist, department head and director of administration, retiring in 1988 as assistant director. He was internationally recognized for his expertise in the microscopic analysis of commercial feeds, known as feed microscopy. He was a charter member and past president of the American Association of Feed Microscopists and taught short courses at universities and agriculture departments in the United States and around the globe, with several memorable teaching trips to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. He was considered the "dean" of feed microscopists and proudly promoted Arkansas agricultural products around the world. Lewis is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years, Jetty Edwards Barefield; daughters, Rebecca Hill of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii and Cynthia Williams of Pine Bluff; four grandchildren, Whitney Williams Steele (Nick) of Benton, Jordan Williams of Little Rock, Joshua Masashi Hill (Caroline) of Mission Viejo, Calif. and Jayme Kimiko Hill of Anchorage, Alaska; and two great-grandsons, William Nicholas Steele and Greyson Emery Hill. He was preceded in death by brothers, Don Barefield, Paul Barefield, Ernest Barefield and Jim Barefield; and sisters, Frances Hedrick and Kathleen Portillo. Lewis enjoyed trout fishing, hunting and gardening and was an avid Arkansas Razorbacks fan. Memorials may be made to the University of Arkansas Foundation with the notation, "Bumpers College, Robert Anderson Scholarship" c/o Bumpers College, 1 University of Arkansas, E111B AFLS Building, Fayetteville, Ark. 72701, or to Lifeline Baptist Church, 7601 Baseline Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72209. The family sincerely appreciates the compassionate care shown by the staffs at Mount Carmel Community and Saline Memorial Hospice and the Lifeline Church family. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at Life Line Baptist Church with services following at 3 p.m., the Rev. Jeff Dial officiating. A committal service is set for 12 p.m. Monday at County Line Cemetery in Nashville, Ark. www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.