Edna Jay Lewis, 97, of Barkhamsted, CT, daughter of Frank and Lucy Wescott Jay, and wife and widow of Paul R. Lewis, passed away peacefully at home Friday, October 7, 2016. She is survived by a brother, Gerald Jay of Salem, NY; two sons, Paul W. Lewis of Seattle, WA and formerly of Washington DC, and Daniel J. Lewis of Barkhamsted, CT and Weinheim, Germany; three granddaughters, Kristen Howard of Ellsworth MI, Marieke Brock of Alexandria VA, and Kathrin Lewis of Weinheim Germany; six great grandchildren living in Maryland, Virginia and Oklahoma. Edna was born March 10, 1919, in East Poultney, VT where she attended primary and secondary school and later married Paul on April 25, 1943 shortly before he was sent with the Army to fight in North Africa, Sicily and Italy during WWII. During the war years while Paul was away, Edna worked in the Philadelphia area and New York. After the wars end, Edna and Paul returned to East Poultney after spending a year in New Milford, CT where Paul had found work. Living again in East Poultney, Edna established a catering business specializing in wedding cakes while also raising two sons and working as a homemaker. In 1961 Edna and Paul moved to Townshend, VT where he took a position as the US Army Engineer Corps Flood Control Reservoir Manager at the Townshend and Ball Mountain dams. They subsequently relocated to Colebrook, CT where Paul was the Reservoir Manager at the Colebrook dam. Upon his retirement, they remained in the area, purchasing their house in Barkhamsted. Edna attended college in New Hampshire and Connecticut after Paul began working for the Army Engineer Corps. She ultimately obtained a bachelors degree from the University of Connecticut. Throughout much of her life Edna was active in the Society of Stukely Westcott Descendents of America, serving as an officer for a number of years. With the assistance of a cousin and friend, Pauline Dennis, Edna compiled and published a 758 page book, The Westcott Family Tree. A continuation of work earlier published in 1932 and 1939 by Roscoe Whitman, Ednas book has been distributed around the country and placed in libraries where it serves as a genealogical reference source. While living in Barkhamsted, Edna was instrumental in the establishment of the First Church Childrens Discovery Center in 1976, a nursery school accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. The Discovery Center operated continuously until this year. Edna will be buried in Wells, VT beside Pau, her late husband of 57 years. A Memorial service will later be scheduled. Persons desiring to donate in Ednas honor are encouraged to make donations to the Church in the Wildwood in North Colebrook, CT or other church of their choice. .