Loraine graduated from Topeka High School and Washburn University where she was vice-president of her senior class and president of her beloved Zeta Tau Alpha. She did post graduate work at the University of Missouri. She taught at Roosevelt Junior High until she met a sweet man who picked up the Christmas packages she dropped while catching the train from Kansas City. They talked all the way back to Topeka followed by coffee at a cafe. Loraine and the late Lt. Col. Arthur W. Blackwood married a year later in 1950. Loraine enjoyed being a military pilot's wife while they were stationed in New Mexico, South Dakota, Ohio, and finally Texas in 1959. Art and Loraine loved Wichita Falls and decided to make it their permanent home to raise their daughters.
Loraine taught at Jefferson Elementary for 20 years before retiring to begin a busy life of volunteering. She served on the Board of the Wichita Falls Teachers Federal Credit Union for 25 years, the Wichita County Heritage Society as chairperson of mass communications, Texas Retired Teachers Association with various positions including historian and scholarship chairperson, Fantasy of Lights Board of Directors as treasurer, United Way loan executive, the Landmark Commission, and was a long time member of Floral Heights United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school plus served as treasurer and assistant circle leader of her woman's circle. Besides coin collecting, she loved to watch college sports and couldn't wait to fill out her bracket for March Madness every year! Loraine and Art were wonderful dancers and enjoyed their time with the Big Band Dance Club.
Loraine dearly loved her family and they brought her great joy. Gigi was always ready to listen to a story, find a treat or provide a lap for snuggling. Visitors to her home were always offered coffee or a coke and a seat in order to chat for a while. She leaves many sweet memories and will be dearly missed.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Arthur, daughters Sandra Blackwood and Connie Shaw, grandson William Arthur McDonald, and brother Philip M. Sewell, Jr.
Surviving her are daughters, Susan Gouldy and her husband, Ralph, Karen DeMent and her husband, Scott, Cheryl McDonald and her husband, Dan, grandchildren, Laura Gibson and her husband, Rande, Caroline Duncan and her husband, Jason, Loren Meager and her husband, Daniel, Catherine Southwell and her husband, Scott, and Grant McDonald; great-grandchildren , Gunner Gibson, Colton Southwell, Jack Meager, Brogan Duncan, Keith Southwell, Arthur Meager, Clark Duncan,Walker Southwell, and her sister, Marlene Hunt.
Services will be held in Wichita Falls at Hampton Vaughan Crestview Memorial Chapel, Friday, March 23rd at 1:00 with the Reverend Don Yeager officiating. Memorials may be made to the Wichita Falls Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund, 4600 Tammy Dr. Wichita Falls, Tx 76306.
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