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Haylee Lewis

August 10, 1999 - April 13, 2017
Portage, MI

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Visitation

Monday, April 17, 2017
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM EDT
Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren
Portage Location
5975 Lovers Lane
Portage, MI 49002
(269) 344-5600
Driving Directions

Service

Tuesday, April 18, 2017
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EDT
Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren
Portage Location
5975 Lovers Lane
Portage, MI 49002
(269) 344-5600
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

DC Strong
102 North Main Street Suite C
Plainwell, MI 49080
Web Site

Cancer Families United
P.O. Box 19397
Kalamazoo, MI 49019
Web Site

Turkey Tracks Hunt
0625 N. 700 E.
Knox, IN 46534
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Polderman's Florist & Garden Center
8710 Portage Road
Portage, MI 49002
(269) 327-3656
Driving Directions

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Haylee Ann Lewis was a beautiful person and lived her life to the fullest. Her compassionate way of being was evident through her genuine love of people. She was a kind-hearted person who saw the good in everyone. Haylee loved to make others laugh and her smile could light up any room. A country girl at heart, who loved the color green and everything camo, she left her imprint on the hearts of many. Those close to her felt privileged to known someone as special as Haylee. Taken too soon, she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Reflecting on the year 1999, it was a time that the world’s population surpassed six billion. Concerns of a millennium bug that would cause wide-scale disruption to business and production threatened computers causing every country around the world to begin preparing for Y2K. The Internet and mobile phones gained in popularity and opened up new opportunities for successful entrepreneurs. On August 10th, Shawn and Dawn (Carpenter) Lewis welcomed home with pride their newborn daughter, Haylee in Kalamazoo, Michigan. As a planned Cesarean section delivery, her arrival melted their hearts and brought much joy into their lives. Joining her older sister, Taylor and later becoming the big sister to Zach, Haylee was an exceptional sister.

As a young girl, Haylee was somewhat shy yet had an adventurous spirit! Attending Haverhill Elementary, she very much enjoyed spending time with her siblings and participating in Rocket cheerleading. A fun, bubbly, and energetic girl, as a classmate, everyone gravitated to her. Just a few short weeks after her tenth birthday, Haylee learned she had cancer. She remained a joyful adolescent during her treatments for nearly two years at Bronson. After the treatments successfully put her cancer in remission, she went on to play basketball at Portage North Middle School and continued to share her positive spirit with each and every person she met. During remission, she was elated to win a new bike at a Make A Wish event! Later, when the bike was stolen, the Portage Police replaced it by funds they had collected. The community was touched by her lovable personality and were happy to share in her joy of beating cancer! Kalamazoo Public Safety, Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s, and Portage Public Safety went out of their way to make her feel special.

As an adolescent, she held many special interests. She fell in love with selfies and became widely known as a selfie Diva! Born in the technology age, it was no surprise that Haylee loved social media and was a Netflix junkie! She absolutely loved the Heartland series and savored watching each and every episode. Haylee was also an avid Taco Bell enthusiast where the staff on Westnedge Avenue could predict what she would order each time she came into the restaurant or the drive-thru! Maturing closer to adulthood and always a lover of animals, she began to focus on her aspiration of one day becoming a veterinarian.

Sadly, just before turning seventeen last summer, Haylee received the news that the cancer had returned. Entering her junior year at Portage Northern High School in the fall, Haylee continued to share her amazing love towards others. Never wanting the attention on herself, she treasured times when she could help others in need. Her “Haylee’s Hope” support group friends and followers as well as the employees at Bronson were very supportive and everyone took the very best care for her. A lifetime lover of Disney, her family recently visited once again, so she could reconnect with her favorite Disney characters, Lilo and Stitch. These memories, as well as Haylee’s nightly request for ice cream during the past few weeks before her death, continue to stir warm feelings of her last days. Described as a very forgiving person, a bit sassy at times, and generous with others, Haylee’s bright light will shine on in the hearts of the numerous lives she has touched.

Haylee Ann Lewis, of Portage, passed away in the arms of her mother and surrounded by her family on Thursday, April 13, 2017 at the age of 17. She is survived by her parents: Shawn and Dawn Lewis, of Portage; siblings: Taylor Vaughn, of Battle Creek; Haylee and Zach Lewis, of Portage; Grandfather: Alford “Papa Lewis” Lewis, of MO; Jack and Roxy Carpenter, of Three Rivers; and Deb and David Scanlon, of Three Rivers and loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She is preceded in death by her grandmother: Charlotte Ann Lewis (2005); great grandparents, and cancer friends: Caitlyn Jackson and Kaiden Burnor. The family will receive friends on Monday from 4-7pm at the Life Story Funeral Home, 5975 Lovers Lane, Portage (269-344-5600). A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 1 pm at the funeral home. Please visit Haylee's web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign the guestbook, share a memory and/or photo. Those who wish may make contributions to DC Strong, Cancer Families United, and/or Turkey Tracks.

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