Southwest Ledger executive editor dies

Carl Ray Lewis II, a veteran newspaperman who was executive editor of the Southwest Ledger and the Southwest Chronicle in Lawton, died March 6, 2023. He was 52.

Becker-Rabon Funeral Home in Lawton said no funeral services are planned.

Lewis was born January 24, 1970, in Midlothian, Texas.

He enrolled at Murray State College in 2010, then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from East Central University at Ada in 2017.

After graduating, Lewis was hired at The Ada News, where he worked for a little more than five years starting as a staff reporter and advancing to become editor.

In 2020, he joined Hilliary Media Group where he served as executive editor of the Southwest Ledger and Southwest Chronicle. 

Lewis is survived by his children: Justin Lewis of the home in Lawton; Sean Lewis of Denton, Texas; Bryan Lewis of The Colony, Texas; and Brandon Lewis of Oklahoma. He also is survived by his sister, Amy Stone of Calera, and four grandchildren.