Obituary of Ronald Lee Lewellyan

The Honorable Judge Ronald L. Lewellyan, 71, of Columbia, Louisiana passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at his home in Columbia.

He was born on May 1, 1946 in Columbia, Louisiana to the union of Janie Marteal Lee and Ezzie Roosevelt Lewellyan.  Ronnie was in the first graduating class from Caldwell Parish High School in 1964.  He went on to attend Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe, Louisiana to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-Law and to earn his Juris Doctorate from Louisiana State University Law School in December, 1971.  He began practicing law in 1972 with the firm Burns and Lewellyan which was later renamed McKeithen, Burns and Lewellyan when former Governor John McKeithen joined the firm.  Ronnie also served as Caldwell Parish Assistant District Attorney for three years. In 1978, he became the youngest district court judge in the state of Louisiana at age 31.  He served as the judge for the 37th Judicial District from 1978 until his retirement in 2002.  At the time of his death Ronnie was serving as Ad Hoc judge for the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Ronnie was a member of Columbia Heights Baptist Church, Louisiana Bar Association, Caldwell Parish Bar Association and Past President of the Caldwell Parish Lions Club.

He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman and taught many people the love of hunting.  He was most known for his contagious laugh and smile.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his oldest son, Gregory Lee Lewellyan; mother and father, Janie Marteal Lee Lewellyan and Ezzie Roosevelt Lewellyan; brother, Ezzie F. Lewellyan; maternal grandparents, Hylton Lee and Elizabeth Rolen Lee; paternal grandparents, James Willard Lewellyan and Mary Elizabeth Lewellyan.

Survivors include his children: Jennifer Lewellyan Frazier and son-in-law, Bob Frazier, Colin C. Lewellyan and daughter-in-law, Melanie Lewellyan, and daughter-in-law, DeLaine Lewellyan Wofford;  grandchildren: Madeline Lee Frazier and Mary Margaret Frazier, Harrison Lee Lewellyan and Haleigh Elizabeth Lewellyan; nieces: Lorrie Lewellyan Raya and Vicki Lewellyan and nephew, John Lewellyan.  Extended family members include Janis Gregory Lewellyan Brown (mother of his children) and Richard Brown.

Services will be held Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Columbia, Louisiana with the Reverend Shane Duke officiating.  The Honorable Judge Don Burns will deliver the eulogy. Visitation will begin at noon until time of service on Wednesday.

Ronnie believed strongly in the advancement of medical education and research and therefore graciously donated his body to the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association.  www.abta.org