Allen Rogers Lewis

Allen Rogers Lewis, age 82, died June 26, 2017 due to kidney failure. Born in Nederland, Texas on April 8, 1935 to Alwin and Fannie Lewis, he was predeceased by his parents and siblings, James Arthur Lewis and Betty Lewis Thomasson. He graduated Ashdown High School and held a music degree from Louisiana Technical University and a master's degree in counseling from the University of Central Arkansas. Widely known to waitresses as "Big Al" and to family as "Uncle Buddy", he was a storyteller who never met a stranger. Allen worked as a high school band director and as a claims officer for Social Security Disability. In 1964 he married Joyce Aldridge and they lived in North Little Rock, Maumelle, and in recent years moved to Hot Springs. He was a life-long Methodist, a choir member and director of hand bells. At death he was a member of Oaklawn United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joyce; nephews Bruce Thomasson (Maumelle, Ark.), Kenneth Thomasson (Arlington, Texas), James Lewis (Bismarck, Ark.), Thomas Lewis (Greenwood, La.), and Daniel Lewis (Waelder, Texas); nieces Barbara Fulkerson (Magnolia, Texas), and Kathleen Walsh (Sonora, Texas); and many other family and friends. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, June 29 at 2 p.m. at Riverwood Memorial Gardens in Maumelle and a memorial service will be held at Oaklawn UMC in Hot Springs on Friday, June 30 at 1:30 p.m. Arrangements under the direction of Roller-Owens Funeral Home, 5509 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock (501) 791-7400. The family extends deep gratitude to the EMTs of LifeNet and the nurses and care teams at National Park Medical Center. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army or Oaklawn United Methodist Church. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/owens.