Lois Lockwood (nee Cartwright) Miller

Lois was born in the family home on Machleary Street in Nanaimo on February 20, 1928 to the late Frank and Thelma Cartwright. As the eldest of three, Lois shared a close bond with her beloved sisters, the late Anne Thompson (Vancouver) and the late Thelma Joan 'Jo' Danielson (Nanaimo).

After graduating from John Shaw High School in 1945, Lois studied education at Normal School in Vancouver and went on to teach in the Nanaimo School District.

Lois married Alexander ‘Sandy’ Noah Miller (predeceased in 1985) on April 3, 1954 at St. Andrews Church in Nanaimo and they had three beautiful children together, Joan, Jim and Lisa.

As newlyweds, Lois and Sandy moved to Williams Lake where Sandy worked at the family sawmill before settling back in Nanaimo, the place Lois called home for the rest of her life.

Lois embraced community and friendship wherever she went and was a major part of many local organizations, including Sorority Beta Sigma Phi since 1950, her long-time weekly bridge club and lively bi-weekly line-dancing meet-ups with the Nanaimo Harbour City Seniors. She maintained her busy social calendar right until the end, and was still line dancing just ten days before she passed.

Lois enjoyed travelling, both locally and internationally, adventuring through North America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. These adventures were shared with family, friends, and her later-in-life partner, the late Jack Prestley. She especially loved the beach and lived close to the ocean for most of her life.

Lois is loved and survived by her three children, Joan Miller, Jim Miller (Bev), Lisa McGillivray (Grant), and seven grandchildren, Alyson (Clay), Alec (Sommer), Jim (Taylor), Andrew (Lauren), Katie (Evan), Laura, Cody, and four great-grandchildren, Carter, Quinn, Nora and Linden, along with many other beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

Lois always said it was "the little things" that mattered most, and she lived by those words. She accepted people with an open heart and enjoyed nothing more than being around her loved ones. A gifted storyteller, Lois had a way of drawing people in with her wit, wisdom, and compassion. She was famous for giving the best advice and being an incredible listener.

Lois believed that the most important thing in life is to love and be loved. This belief guided her through life’s joys and challenges, and is the legacy she leaves behind for her family and those that knew her: a legacy of kindness, resilience, and unconditional love.

To honour Lois’s wishes, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.