Lew E. Sorrells, 89, died on November 4, 2023. He was born in Rosboro, AR., on October 21, 1934. He was the son of the late Vesper "Jack" and Rachel Crudup Sorrells of Glenwood, AR.

Lew graduated from Glenwood high school in 1952 and attended Henderson State Teachers College at Arkadelphia, (now Henderson State University), where he met and later married the only love of his life, Patricia Anne Crowly who preceded him in death on October 11, 2016. They had been married for 62 years.

In 1954, he moved to Brinkley and was employed by Baldwin's Esso Service Center. From there he worked for the Phillips-Jones Corp. (Van Heusen Shirts), where he began as a laborer and rose to the position of Assistant Manufacturing Manager. In September 1955 he joined Buck Hurley  Gin & Elevator as a bookkeeper and became the gin's manager in 1958. In 1962 he and a partner purchased the gin & elevator, and it became the Lew Sorrells Gin & Elevator, Inc. After the gin was closed in 1972, he farmed rice, soybeans & cotton until 1986.

After he left farming, he had various short jobs for a year, one for a local accountant where in November 1989, he discovered a computer software niche and formed Computer Systems of Arkansas, Inc. He led it to become the largest software dealership in Arkansas for utility billing and municipal accounting software, with many systems in Mississippi and Tennessee also. He was awarded the top software dealership in the nation from Horizon and Red Wing Municipal Software eight times and was the nation's top dealer for RVS Utility Billing Software also. He sold the corporation in 2002 but was persuaded to work for the new owners in sales & support until his retirement in March 2011.

In his retirement, he wrote his autobiography "My Life and My List of Jobs" and "A Love Story", the story of his and Patricia's meeting and early marriage. He wrote these for his daughters and grandchildren. In 2018 he wrote some "Stories from the Past" that were published in the Monroe County Herald. He also wrote over 50 unpublished stories about his family and his experiences.

He joined the First Baptist Church in Brinkley in 1963 and was ordained a deacon in 1966. He was a former Chairman of Deacons, Chairman of the Budget & Finance Committee, and a former Trustee. He was the Sunday school teacher of the same men's class for over 45 years. This class began with 4 members in 1974 and grew to 83 members in 1983 making it the largest Men's SBC Sunday school class in Arkansas. In 2010 he wrote a history of this class for the former class members, "The History of the Lew Sorrells Sunday Class 1974-1984.

He was currently serving on the Southern Baptist Seminary Foundation Board in Louisville, KY. He was a former trustee of Ouachita Baptist University; past president of the Brinkley Chamber of Commerce; past chairman of the Brinkley Airport Commission and past vice president of the Brinkley School Board. He was a former member and the treasurer of the Central Delta Depot Museum governing board and was a Monroe County Master Gardener. He moved to Ridgemere Assisted Living at Conway, AR., in September 2021 to be closer to his family.

He is survived by his two daughters, Pamela L. Sims, (Randy) of Conway, AR., and Carole L. Brockinton (Mandel), of Sherwood, AR. Eight grandchildren, Joshua (Alicia) Sims; Rebekah Sims (Tae) Thomas of Conway, Rachel Sims (John) Miller III of Little Rock, AR; Dr. John (Catherine) Sims of North Little Rock, AR; Daniel (Jennifer) Sims of Conway, AR; Laura Brockinton (Caleb) Gunnels, of North Little Rock, AR; Mary Grace Brockinton, and Bruce Brockinton of Sherwood and 10 great-grandchildren, with an 11th expected in April. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, his one and only love of his life, his parents, and his only brother, David Sorrells of Hot Springs, AR.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas Baptist Children's Home, 9701 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR. 72205.

Visitation will be Tuesday at 1:00P.M. with Services following at 2:00 at the First Baptist Church in Brinkley.  Burial at Oaklawn Cemetery. Arrangements by Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Home. Guestbook/obit/bobnealandsons.com