Lois Marie Smith

Lois Marie Smith was born April 29, 1929. She is preceded in death by her parents, William Stanhope Norwood and Zimmer Acey Erwin, her two daughters Eva and Inez Smith, and her grandson Erick Smith. She is from Norwood Community, near San Augustine County here in Texas. The Norwood community was named after her grandfather who donated land to the community that was used by the local church and school. The church and school are still standing today. Lois had five brother and four sisters. They were a close knit farming family.

Lois met the love of her life Dennie Lee Smith and married him at the age of fifteen. They were married 54 years at the time of his passing.

Dennie and Lois shared a home and raised a family together in Channelview, Texas where they established their home in 1954. She gave birth to her first child in late 1945 and went to raise eight of her own children, four grandchildren. Lois and Dennie held their home open too many friends and their children. She was well known for caring for children in need and who needed to have a safe place to come and play. The children who frequented their home were well fed and treated just like kids of their own. Lois share her cooking and her guests often left with a special homemade craft or gift from her to them.

Lois was a very well renowned cook among her community of friends and family. As she was raising her children, she also made time to work first in the school cafeteria where children attended school, Channelview ISD. She later worked at Northshore Hospital where she became a dietician and prepared the prescribed meals for patients. When Lois made her famous biscuits, it was funny how all of a sudden people were dropping in for a bite to eat. Whenever anyone came to visit, she would whip out some of her famous home cooking and no one left hungry. Even the local police and fire members were known to make a stop at Lois Smith’s for a short break, refreshment and good company.

Raising children came naturally to Lois. Because she worked at the school and was heavily involved in the community, it made it hard for her children and grandchildren to get away with anything. She had eyes everywhere.

While raising her children and working, she also made a hobby of crocheting and canning. Her crocheted items were a hot commodity. Family members and friends loved to receive anything she made. She made beautiful angels, crocheted caps and scarves for the children. Her afghans were not only given as gifts, but were also known to make their way to charity auctions where they commanded a high dollar donation as folks had bidding wars over them. Her crocheted blankets are prize possessions for those who received them.

Her jelly and jams were also loved by all. Much of her home made goods were gifted to others and anyone who received them felt special.

My Maw Maw was always ready and there for her family. My son needed a baker’s hat one day and she made it for him out of a pillow case that same day in ten minutes. She was always able to creatively make due so that we were all taken care of.

Lois’s faith in god was a foundation for the way she lived her life. She believed in treating everyone in her life the way she would want to be treated. Any in need was met at the door by my Maw Maw with a genuine welcome and love and kindness.

I also need to mention my Maw Maws birthday in April each year which she turned into a family and friends reunion. These gatherings meant a lot to her because she loved being surrounded by her family and friends and all throughout the year family and friends were the highlight of her life. All who came had the gift of her love and food and friendship. Everyone brought something from gifts to food. The celebrations went long and there was always plenty to eat.

The last couple of years of her life were spent in a senior community home where she continued to share her talents. She taught her new friends how to make biscuits, crochet, and even caught the eye of some of the gentlemen there. I also had the privilege of going on field trips with my Maw Maw. Maw Maw does not eat seafood, but she loved her social outings so much that she signed up for a field trip to go to Kemah. Well, we went and she had a great time even though she had nothing to do with the fish. There were several of these trips that she truly enjoyed along with the teaching sessions for her friends during these last couple of years.

When she passed, she passed peacefully surrounded by her family. We said our goodbyes and know that she is with our Paw Paw and our heavenly father in heaven.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that donations be made on behalf of Lois Marie Smith to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Donations can either be made on the website: CFF.org. The mailing address for making a donation is 50 Briar Hollow Lane, Ste. 250 C, Houston, TX 77027.