W. Cris Lewis

W. Cris Lewis

November 5, 1940 - May 15, 2021

Dr. William Crismon Lewis passed away peacefully at his home in Bountiful, Utah on May 15, 2021 after an 18 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Cris was born November 5, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois to Loya Nielson Lewis and William Crismon Lewis, Sr. and was raised with his two sisters in the Irving Park area of Chicago. Cris came from a rich Utah and Arizona pioneer heritage. He is a descendent of the Lewis, Kempe, Snow, and Crismon families.

Cris had a keen mind and a lifelong passion for learning. After graduating from Carl Schurz High School in Chicago in 1958, Cris attended Brigham Young University where he earned degrees in Economics and Statistics in 1962. He later was awarded an MBA from Northwestern University in 1964, and a PhD in Economics and Statistics from Iowa State University in 1969. He began teaching at the University of Oklahoma and then Utah State University in 1972. While at Utah State, Cris served as Head of the Economics Department, Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs, and Director of the MBA Program in the College of Business. Cris was a visiting professor at Brigham Young University from 1991-92. He retired from Utah State in 2009. He authored and co-authored many academic papers and books, including a popular managerial economics textbook. One of his special talents at the University was connecting with and mentoring graduate students and young faculty. He preached the gospel of the Free Enterprise System to thousands of students over his career. He was also a well-known expert on forensic economics and testified in numerous lawsuits, specializing in personal injury and wrongful death cases.

Cris enlisted in the army in 1962 and served as an active duty soldier and reservist until 1968 when he was honorably discharged. He trained in an artillery unit and finished his career in military intelligence.

Cris was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many callings. He was a volunteer at the LDS Conference Center and a Church Service Missionary at the LDS Employment Center. His favorite calling was home teacher/minister and he loved serving the families he was assigned to minister. At the time of his death, Cris was the Executive Secretary of the Creekside Senior Living Center Branch in Bountiful, Utah. He cherished his friendships at the Center and spent many hours enjoying the company of the residents. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Cris was unable to visit the center. However, he attended the virtual services faithfully and regularly called to check in on the ward members, even when he felt very ill.

Cris (aka “Big Time”) was an avid Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. He also loved the Aggies and regularly attended basketball and football games at USU. He was physically active throughout his life and especially loved playing competitive handball, weightlifting, golfing, and skiing. His hobbies included reading, playing chess (especially virtual games with far away friends and family), sailing, building model railroads, carpentry, and putting rubber chickens where they were least expected. According to Cris, he was the world champion of Hearts in 1972, Cribbage in 1978, and Five Crowns in 2020. Unfortunately these titles could not be confirmed. However, he did win the Sitmar Cruise Ship Gin Rummy Championship in 1981.

Cris was preceded in death by his parents and sister Jean (Kent) Butterfield. He is survived by his devoted sister Dixie (Randie) Burrell; four daughters, Kimberly (Tom) Leech, Susan (Robb) Hunt, Cindy (Blaine) Burnett, and Molly Waters; seven grandchildren- Jenna, Connor, Andre, Marcus, Adrianna, Olivia, and Samuel; great-grandchild Milo; former spouses, Bobbie Allen, Sharon Tarnutzer, and ValRey Stabenow, who remained a dear friend until the end.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the Stone Creek Chapel, 1476 N. 300 W., Bountiful. Friends may visit Friday evening from 6 to 8 pm at Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N. 400 E., and also Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the chapel. Interment will take place at the Springville Evergreen Cemetery, Springville, Utah. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Huntsman Cancer Foundation, LDS Church Humanitarian Aid Fund, or Huntsman School of Business, Utah State University. Services will be live-streamed by scrolling to the bottom of Cris’s obituary page.

The family would like to thank his amazing healthcare providers at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, the wonderful hospice nurses from Huntsman at Home who took such good care of him in his final days, and his loving friends and neighbors who supported him throughout his illness.

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