Phillip Melvin Lewis
Marriages
Krista M. Garamella - 1975
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 11A - May 26, 2023
Phillip Melvin Lewis,
82, of Grand Junction, CO
passed away peacefully
Sunday, May 21, 2023 at
home surrounded by his
family. He was born January
1, 1941 in Coolidge, Arizo-
na, the son of John C. Lewis
and Lillian D. Whitlock.
Phil grew up in Coolidge,
AZ before moving to Tuc-
son, AZ to earn his degree
from the University of Arizona. He worked as an Agriculture
Extension agent for the State of Arizona, and then worked
in the agrichemical industry before eventually following his
true passion of farming and ranching.
He found the love of his life and his eternal companion
when he married Krista M. Garamella in 1975.
Ever the cowboy at heart, Phil was always most comfort-
able on the back of a good horse and his passion for ranch-
ing and farming was obvious to anyone who knew him. He
always maintained that his greatest accomplishment in life
was his family. He created a legacy built upon the principles
of hard work, integrity, and living life centered around faith
in Jesus Christ, family, and compassion for others.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Krista. He is survived
by children, Kreat, Skigh, Brandt, Seth, Quinta (Johnson),
Katari (Whiteside), Philicia (Connors), Kirstin (Perez), 24
grandchildren, and siblings Tom and Francis. Phil is also
survived by wife Karen Rigg-Lewis whom he met after
Krista passed in 2016, and they shared many wonderful ad-
ventures during Phil’s remaining years.
Services will be held Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 10:00
a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
2542 G Road, Grand Junction, CO 81505.
