Colorado State Representative Kimmi Clark Lewis died Friday following her third battle with cancer her family has announced. She was 62. Lewis was surrounded by family when she passed away at her family ranch.

Lewis, from Kim in Las Animas County, was first elected in 2016 to represent the Colorado House of Representatives District 64, which covers Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Las Animas, Lincoln, Prowers and Washington counties. 

Lewis was born March 19, 1957, and was raised with her three sisters on a cattle ranch in northeast Las Animas County. She graduated from Kim High School, then attended Trinidad State Junior College, graduating in 1977.

While in college, she married her high school sweetheart, Dave Lewis. The couple had six children.

In 1992, the Lewis’ purchased the Muddy Valley Ranch from her parents, where they raised cattle. They also owned and operated Dave Lewis Trucking. Dave Lewis died in 2000 from leukemia.

Lewis had been a life-long Republican and held every office in the Las Animas County Republican Party except treasurer. She was also an advocate for agriculture and private property rights.

Morgan Carroll, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, honored Lewis, stating, “Representative Lewis was a strong, principled legislator who represented her community with pride and tenacity. On behalf of the Colorado Democratic Party, we send our condolences to her family, friends, and the community she represented. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and loved ones during this sad time.”

Lewis’ family released the following statement:

“With heavy hearts, we share that Kimmi Clark Lewis entered God’s Kingdom this morning following her third and valiant battle with cancer.  She was at home on her ranch surrounded by family and loved ones.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Kimmi was many things throughout her life – daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, rancher, business owner, advocate, devout follower of Christ, and proud representative of her rural district in the State Legislature. But the common threads throughout her time on earth were her strong ties to the land she was born and raised on and her unwavering principles. 

To her constituents, she was their voice in the state capitol; to her colleagues, an inexhaustible resource for all matters related to agriculture and property rights; to her neighbors and community, a resolute and unflagging defender of their rights and way of life; but to us, she was the epitome of a strong, passionate, and heroic American who was committed to her family while faithfully serving her community. Her patriotism, strength, and resolve were unmatched and we pray her character lives on in all of us.

We sincerely thank all for their prayers and words of encouragement to Kimmi throughout her long and hard-fought battle.  She never let cancer hold her back from reaching her goals and the job at hand.  We know her memory will live on in the people whose lives she so generously impacted, and in the land and way of life she worked so hard to protect.”