Obituary of Lewis Carlin

Lewis Carlin (better known as Lew) was born to Thomas Lee Carlin and Dortha (Latshaw) Carlin in Neosho, Missouri, on January 20, 1938. He spent his young years living in the Monett, Missouri area. After his parents divorced, Lew moved with his father to Asherville, Kansas, when he was 8 years old. He attended grade school in Asherville, and then graduated high school in Simpson, Kansas. After graduation, Lew and his best friend, along with a mechanic from Asherville, followed wheat harvest from Texas to South Dakota. The stories he told about their adventures on these trips were quite entertaining, however, those were enjoyable summers for them. Lew worked for Boeing aircraft for approximately a year and then joined the National Guard for a tour of duty. Immediately following his training with the National Guard, Lew was employed by the J. M. McDonald Co. at Concordia, Kansas. Later, he was transferred to the store in Minden, Nebraska, where he met his wife, Merna Bloomfield. They were married on September 2, 1962, in Minden, where they had a double wedding with Merna’s sister and brother-in-law, Alice and Don Bates. Lew was then transferred to Goodland, Kansas, in March 1963, to McCook, Nebraska, in March, 1966, to Burlington, Colorado, in March 1967, and to Ulysses, Kansas in July 1974. In 1977, Lew and Merna opened the Fashion Corner in Burlington which they operated until 1980, at which time they purchased the Montgomery Ward Catalog Sales store in Burlington. They sold the Montgomery Ward store in 1982 and Lew was then employed as manager at Burlington Manor . Although Lew enjoyed the retail business, his true calling was fulfilled as manager of Burlington Manor. A remodeling project was initiated and completed in his first years as manager. He took pride I making Burlington Manor a great place to live for the elderly and for those who needed assistance. He personally began to take an interest in each tenant, no matter what their needs might be, and he attempted to make life easier for them. He had great compassion for people who temporarily might be down on their luck or for those who needed a guiding hand and assistance. His love for God was revealed on this earth in his ability to deal with and love people from all walks of life. Lew was a member of First Christian Church in Burlington and taking care of church property was a high priority for him. He had a love for horses and was a member of the Prairie Carriage Club during its existence. He gave rides in his favorite buggy to many people of the community with his “Jack and Jill” including many children who learned a number of buggy riding songs that he taught them. Jack and Jill took Lew on a trip from Burlington to Minden, Nebraska, that took him 7 days, but oh the memories he made on that trip. Lew and Merna were charter members of the Flatlander Sams camping group and spent 15 wonderful years traveling with wonderful friends. He was Wagonmaster for the last 14 years and enjoyed telling his friends when and where to go. Lew passed away in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on June 8, 2012, doing just what he always enjoyed the most-working. He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife of nearly 50 years, his son, Greg and wife Jana (grandchildren: Chase, Cord and Chance), his son Grant and wife Leann (grandchildren: Lance and Chad) and daughter Pam Carlin (granddaughter, Kelsey Bridges, grandson Brady Bridges and wife Kelsey Bridges, and great-grandson, Connor Bridges). He is also survived by his brother, Jerry Carlin and wife Elaine from Searcy, Arkansas, along with a host of nieces and nephews and wonderful friends.