James William Lewis Jr.

James William Lewis Jr., 55, of Harkers Island, departed the confines of his earthly body and entered into the presence of our Lord and Heavenly Father on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Carteret Health Care in Morehead City, NC.

James was born on December 11, 1970, to James William Lewis Sr. and Lois Pearl Lewis (“Jamie” and “Pearl”) in Sea Level, NC.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 22nd at 1pm at Harkers Island Methodist Church with Pastor Lee Pittard officiating. After the service, interment will take place privately with close family at Vergie Mae Cemetery on Harkers Island.

James was a true Harkers Islander, born and bred. As a child, he loved being out on the sound, swimming, and exploring the banks.

His father, Jamie, often had a hard time getting him back in the boat to go home, as he never wanted to leave. James took after his daddy with his love of duck hunting. He often spent his school days drawing ducks in class and daydreaming of being in the marsh. Inspired by his uncle Houston, he began carving duck decoys. He eventually became a board member of the Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild and served as Show Chairman for 19 years of the Core Sound Decoy Festival.

He is best known as a master boatbuilder and carpenter, working for his father and Uncle Houston at Lewis Bros. Boatworks. Together, they built many wooden boats throughout the years. From small 8-foot skiffs to 70-foot trawlers, island workboats to sportfishing boats, their craftsmanship can be found scattered across the eastern United States. This led to his co-receiving the prestigious 2016 North Carolina Heritage Award alongside his father, James, and uncle, Houston, for their traditional “rack-of-eye” style of boatbuilding.

A devoted husband and father, he passed his love of the water, boats, hunting, carving, and the Lord down to his son, Dereck. He was also a loving Christian husband to his wife, Michelle.

He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 36 years, Michelle Lewis of Harkers Island, NC; son, Dereck Lewis and wife, Kaitlyn, of Williston, NC; uncle, Houston Lewis and wife, Terry, of Harkers Island, NC; cousin, Mary Lewis Scarborough and husband, Anthony, of Washington, NC; cousin, Nora Lewis Lawrence and husband, Corey, of Smyrna, NC; cousin, Elizabeth Lewis of Harkers Island, NC; cousin, Kristen Styron and fiancé, Zachary Spell, of New Bern, NC; cousins Emma Styron and Ilyse Styron of Smyrna, NC; cousin, John Robinson and wife, Wendy, of Stacy, NC; cousin, Serina Kannan and husband, Patrick “Pizza,” of Morehead City, NC; cousins Emilee Graham and husband, Austin, of Mill Creek, NC; Ashlyn Robinson and fiancé, Larry Leal, of Stacy, NC; and many more cousins and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jamie and Pearl Lewis; baby uncle, Houston Lewis; Uncle Steven Lewis; Uncle Paulie Lewis; Aunt Alicia Lewis; Uncle Norman Robinson; Aunt Demaris Robinson; and Uncle Cecil Robinson.

The family would like to thank the following: Harkers Island Rescue Squad, The nurses and staff at Carteret Health Care, and Pastor Lee Pittard.

We thank you all for the love, care, and support you showed and expressed to James, as well as ourselves, through this most difficult and trying time. We cannot express our gratitude enough.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noefs.net

Arrangements by Noe Funeral Service, Inc. of Beaufort, NC.