Lewis died after a long battle with colon cancer at Rowena Jackson O'Byrne Hospital Wing.
In honour of his long service to the Riverton Coastguard since 1986, and a life membership awarded in 1999, the Riverton Coastguard allowed family members to transport Lewis from the boat ramp in Riverton to the coastguard rooms for the Memorial Service, aboard the Russell John Chisholm Coastguard Lifeboat. The Service was conducted by Ngaire Cameron (Celebrant).
On a beautiful evening on January 22 2013, Lewis went for his final boat trip to the secluded Stewart Island beach named 'Golden Beach', where family members carried out his last wishes and scattered his ashes. Two boats made the trip to convey family and friends, the Russell John Chisholm and the recently finished 'Swellrider', built by Lewis' stepson Doug McDonald.
