Lewis McCurdy Jones

Lewis McCurdy Jones went to be with his precious Lord and Savior on Sept 13, 2025 at the age of 82.

Born to parents Dr. Lewis McCurdy Jones and Ouida Etheridge Fort Jones on Sept 15, 1942 in Fort Benning, Georgia, Lewis spent his young years in Tuskegee, Alabama with his beloved little brother Malcolm, dear aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Following the unexpected death of his father, Ouida later married Harold Grady Eich, who loved the boys like they were his own, and the family moved to Columbia, SC. During those years, Lewis’s family expanded to 2 beloved sisters, Deb and Miro, and a baby brother Tim, all of whom he loved dearly. Family meant the world to him.

Lewis graduated from Ben Lippen H.S. in Asheville, NC in 1960, where he enjoyed taking part in chorus and playing basketball, baseball and soccer. It was there that he met and fell in love with Maria Isabel Walford, and they were married upon graduation. While attending the University of South Carolina, Lewis and Maria had their only child, Courtneylove. Although their marriage ended in 1972, they continued to remain friends their whole lives.

After graduating from USC, Lewis taught Biology at Dentsville and Spring Valley High Schools, enjoying interaction with students and sharing his love for science and the natural world. During his college and young teaching career, Lewis developed an avid interest in the outdoors- fishing, backpacking, and canoeing. Having to travel to NC to buy gear, he began dreaming of opening the first backpacking store in SC.

On September 3, 1973, Lewis and his brother Malcolm opened The Backpacker Quality Gear in Columbia, SC on Harden St. in 5 Points. In the following years, Lewis thrived on meeting new people, making the store feel like “home” and spreading his enthusiasm for the outdoors. He led backpacking, canoeing and rock-climbing classes and trips, helping build an outdoor community in Columbia. Lewis developed many special relationships with the Backpacker staff, who he referred to as the “Backpacker family”, that lasted his whole life.

In 1985, Lewis married Sandy Yvonne McGee. They enjoyed many good times with family and friends through the years at Lake Murray and the beaches of SC. Lewis also loved playing golf during that time. Lewis and Sandy cherished growing together in the knowledge of the Lord at Shandon Baptist Church. They also celebrated the arrival of Lewis’s only grandchild, Emma Rose Gowans in 2003, who truly became the apple of Lewis’s eye. Sadly, Sandy passed later that year.

Lewis, Courtneylove, her husband David and Emma Rose spent many years celebrating life events with his dear friend Rebecca Lynn Gowans.

It is hard for us to believe he is gone…BUT-

Lewis loved the Lord, and in his later years wanted to tell others the Good News of Jesus Christ. He wanted them to share in the great comfort of knowing grace, forgiveness, peace and a secure eternal home.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 “So we are always confident, knowing that while we at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

Lewis McCurdy Jones is survived by daughter Courtneylove Gowans (David Gowans), granddaughter Adelina (Emma) Rose Gowans, siblings Malcolm Fort Jones (Judy Jones), Deborah Anne Eich Lowery (David Lowery), Miriam Frances Eich Fleming (Michael Fleming), Timothy Harold Eich (Elizabeth Eich) and many beloved nieces, nephews and their children.

A celebration of Lewis’s life will be held on Saturday, October 18th, 2025, 11:00 am at Hope Church, 2609 Seminole Rd Columbia, SC 29210.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Oliver Gospel Mission PO Box 7696 Columbia SC  29202 or Online at olivergospel.org/donate