Otis Earl Lewis

Obituary Otis Earl Lewis, 87, of Beaufort, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at Carteret Health Care surrounded by his family. A funeral to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 21, 2021 at First Free Will Baptist Church in Beaufort. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. He will be laid to rest following the service at Oceanview Cemetery. The funeral service will be livestreamed to the Noe-Brooks Facebook page. View live stream by following this link https://fb.me/e/1YsD8msWd Otis was born July 27, 1933 at the family home at water's edge on Lennoxville to Charlie and Polly Barker Lewis. In his early teens he went to work with his father in the Menhaden fishing industry. In a short period of time, Otis worked his way up to become a Menhaden Captain himself. While fishing in the Gulf, he met and married the love of his life, Jeannette Marie McGrath. They were married in Pascagoula, Mississippi on October 29, 1961 and made their home in Beaufort. They have been members of First Free Will Baptist Church of Beaufort since 1962. They had one daughter, Deanna Lewis Gillikin. After 25 years of fishing in the Gulf, he took a position of captaining the research vessel with the University of North Carolina Marine Sciences in Morehead City. Otis had a deep love for his family and cherished his grandchildren, Davin Clark Willis and Mary Elizabeth Gillikin-Twiddy. After he retired from the University, he became the official nanny to his grandchildren which would become his favorite career. Otis was multi-talented from woodworking to mechanics. He loved to share these gifts and passed his talents along to many. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Bertie Murphy, Pearl Hunnings, and Letha Davis; one brother Charlie C. Lewis; and one brother-in-law, Cunningham W. McGrath Jr. Otis is survived by his beloved wife of almost 60 years, Jeannette McGrath Lewis; one daughter, Deanna Lewis Gillikin and husband, Alfred C. Gillikin; one sister, Ada Mae Taylor; two brothers-in-law, Joseph K. McGrath and James W. McGrath; two grandchildren Davin Clark Willis and Mary Elizabeth Gillikin-Twiddy and husband, Michael Douglas Twiddy; and numerous nieces and nephews. Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home, Morehead City, NC. Services Visitation Sunday March 21, 2021 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM First Free Will Baptist Church (Beaufort) 1947 US-70 Beaufort, NC 28516 Funeral Service Sunday March 21, 2021 2:00 PM First Free Will Baptist Church (Beaufort) 1947 US-70 Beaufort, NC 28516