Born in Junee on January 31, 1955, he lived majority of his life in the small town.

Succumbing to liver failure and renal dysfunction, he passed away at the Calvary Hospital in Wagga on August 10.

He began his career as as a cadet at the Daily Advertiser when he was still only a young man.

Throughout his life, he worked for newspapers in Mount Isa and in Canberra before returning to his hometown and attempting to build his own media empire in The Junee Examiner.

Less than a year after he began the venture, the paper folded and he returned to the Daily Advertiser and Junee Southern Cross.

Outside of the newsroom, his eldest son Tim Lewis recalls, he spent his time on the sporting field.

"He was a family man, always fishing and he loved his sports," his son said.

"He played AFL when he was younger, back when there was the Junee Bulldogs."

A farewell for Mr Lewis was attended by up to 50 people in Junee at the weekend. Among the guests was deputy prime minister and relative of the Lewis family, Michael McCormack.

"Graeme Lewis was a man of his word as well as a words man," Mr McCormack said.

"[He] liked to get on with the job - no fuss, no bother.

"Graeme was a friend to many and I was proud to work alongside him and also to be his cousin. He will be sadly missed."

Mr Lewis is survived by his three sons, Tim, Michael and Grant, sister Marie and brother Robert, as well as five grandchildren.