It is with hearts full of love and deep gratitude that the family of Byron Smith Lewis Jr.—known to so many as “Barney”—celebrates a life beautifully and fully lived. Born on February 8, 1939, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Byron Lewis and Hildred Houser Lewis, Barney was the youngest boy of ten children, raised in a family that knew the value of hard work, deep roots, and abiding love.

From his earliest days, Barney possessed a spirit that was equal parts tenacious and joyful. After graduating high school, he pursued that spirit at Lincoln Memorial University, where he excelled on both the baseball diamond and the basketball court. His talent earned him a place on the United States Army’s baseball team when he enlisted—a chapter of his life that carried him far from Tennessee and toward the greatest adventure of all.

It was while serving in the United States Army that Barney met and married the love of his life, Carole Jean Anthony. Together they built a life that moved with purpose—beginning in El Paso, Texas, then to Atlanta, from Atlanta to Asheville, and finally back home to Maryville, Tennessee, where their story truly blossomed. They returned home not just to a place, but to a community, a church, and a calling.

Barney and Carole were blessed with three daughters: Jennifer, Beth, and Susan. His girls remember a childhood filled with warmth, laughter, and a father who made home feel like the safest, happiest place on earth. He provided not only shelter and stability, but a legacy of love that his daughters carry with them every day.

Back in Blount County, Barney poured his energy into building something lasting. He began his career in excavating alongside his father-in-law at Anthony Construction, which later became Pioneer Construction—a company he owned and operated with pride until 1989. He went on to a long and distinguished career in construction, eventually retiring from Vanhooesco Pipe and Precast. A man deeply invested in his community, Barney also served as County Commissioner for Blount County, bringing the same integrity and dedication to public service that defined everything he did.

Faith and fellowship were the foundation of Barney’s life. He and Carole were lifelong, active members of First Baptist Church of Maryville, where Barney played on the church softball league for many years and later coached Upward Basketball—pouring into young lives with the same enthusiasm he’d brought to his own athletic career. Together, he and Carole kept an open, welcoming home, hosting Christmas parties, FCA gatherings, and family reunions that filled their house with laughter and the kind of warmth that guests never forgot.

In his later years, Barney’s greatest joy was time with family. He took up golf with characteristic enthusiasm and cheered on the Tennessee Volunteers with unshakeable loyalty. A man who loved all creatures great and small, Barney had a special tenderness for horses and dogs throughout his life—animals that gave back to him every bit of the gentle devotion he so freely offered them. But it was his six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who lit up his world in a way nothing else could.

Barney was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carole Jean Anthony Lewis; his parents, Byron and Hildred Lewis; brothers Ed, Harold, and Kenneth; and sisters Vivian, JoAnn, Rosemary, Peggy, and Susan.

He is survived by his brother, David Lewis of Knoxville, TN. Barney and Carole’s three daughters and their husbands also carry on his legacy: Jennifer and Rick Anderson of Charleston, SC; Beth and David Thames of Brentwood, TN; and Susan and Jimmy Garland of Friendsville, TN. His grandchildren—Caroline Anderson-Glick of Charlotte, NC; Olivia Skerpon of Charleston, SC; Marin and Miles Thames of Brentwood, TN; and Will and Madeline Garland of Friendsville, TN—carry his laughter forward. And his two great-grandchildren, Anderson and Caulder Skerpon, are among the newest and most beloved chapters of his story.

Barney Lewis lived the way he loved—wholeheartedly, faithfully, and with great joy. He was a builder in every sense of the word: of homes, of businesses, of community, and above all, of family. His memory will be a blessing to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A private ceremony will be held Monday, April 27, 2026, for immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Blount County Animal Shelter—a cause close to Barney’s heart.