Orella Linn Lewis

Orella Linn Lewis

1959-2024

Orella Linn Lewis 64 went home to our father in heaven on August 23, 2024. She passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones at her home. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Orella was the second child born to Lee and Lois Sanchez on September 16, 1959, two months premature, weighing 2 lbs and a few ounces. Her parents would say she was their greatest challenge. Small enough to fit in a shoe box, Orella slept in one lined with cotton in her Mother’s top dresser drawer until she grew out of it. Her grandfather LeMar called her his little Rosie. She has always been small. At 4 foot 9 inches tall she never weighed more than 125 pounds. Although small of stature she was full of spice and spunk.

 She had three siblings, an older brother Rick and two younger sisters LoreyAnn and Robin. LoreyAnn always loved Orella and called her “Sissy” and Robin loving called her “my little, big sister”. Orella loved her siblings and they were lifelong friends and accomplices. During her childhood she enjoyed horses, fishing, and the many summers spent with her family in Cascade where she loved walking in the forest or to the lake to play in the water and enjoy the sun. During these summers she was surrounded by her many cousins all of which she loved. Orella would continue the tradition of summers in Cascade throughout her adult life with her family. It was her home away from home.

Orella married James Kent Hemsley in October of 1977. In July of 1978, they welcomed their daughter Jamie. Jamie was the only child born to Orella and James. Unfortunately, James died a couple years later in a tragic automobile accident. Orella was a widow with a 3 year old daughter to care for. Orella worked various jobs during her lifetime, but her true passion was taking care of her daughter and her family.

Orella met her second husband and love of her life Kevin Lewis in 1981. Kevin laughs as he says Orella picked him up at the Cassia County Fair. He left his friend at the fair and she took him dancing in Hansen, and they have been together ever since. When they moved in together Kevin vowed to take care of Jamie like she was his own daughter. He promised Jamie’s parents he would always love and take care of her and Orella. Kevin has kept his promise and raised Jamie as his own daughter, he has dedicated his life to love and care for her and her mother. The Hemsley family has always been supportive.

Kevin proposed to Orella on multiple occasions before she finally said yes. After 24 years they were married on February 14, 2006. They were together for 43 years. Orella loved music but she especially loved listening to Kevin play his guitar. They both enjoyed watching and singing along with their grandchildren. Her second musical love was ELVIS!

In the early 80’s Orella graduated from the College of Southern Idaho with a degree in small engine repair. Her teachers and classmates marveled at how she could take an old engine and not only repair it but also make it look clean and brand new. She always kept her home and work clean. She was the type of person that if she could vacuum the lawn, she would have. Jamie blessed Kevin and Orella with two beautiful grandchildren Jerica, in 1996, and Zachary, in 1998. She was so proud of both of them and the beautiful families they are raising.

God gained one of the best when he took Orella. She was a good Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. She loved all the children so much and enjoyed being a part of their lives. Orella was the keeper of birthdays she had them all on her paper calendar and would copy them over by hand every year so she would remember to call you on your birthday. Orella was preceded in death by her first husband James Hemsley and his parents Dick and Nola Hemsley, her parents Lee and Lois Sanchez, nephew LeMar Sanchez, son-in-law Eddie Longnickel, and brother Rick Sanchez. She is survived by her husband Kevin Lewis, daughter Jamie (Tom)Fitzgerald, two amazing grandchildren Jerica (Caz) Hemsley, Zachary (Jennifer) Goodro, six great grandchildren, Brooklynn, Lily, Zachary Jr, Ricky, Marcella, Amaya, her two sisters, Lorey Ann (Joe) Masters and Robin (April) Stark. She also has five nephews and one niece she called Harry.

A celebration of life will be held in her honor at a later date. Thank you to the numerous family and friends for the support during this difficult time. Our family appreciates you very much. Thank you for all the meals and visits during the last days of Orella’s life and for contributing to Jamie's GoFundMe page. A special thank you to her beautiful granddaughter Jerica and the hospice nurses for caring for her in the last moments of her life. May God bless and keep you.

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