Born in Haskell, NJ, Lois lived in Franklin, Sussex, Paterson, and Stockholm before moving to Andover Township in 1956. In 2017, Lois moved to Bristol Glen in Newton, and in 2022, she moved to The Gallery in North Port, Florida. She was a graduate of Franklin High School, and pursued higher education 20 years later where she received her BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1975. A Preschool Trainer for The New Jersey Preschool Training Program, her expertise was in Guiding Children’s Behavior, Nurture and Language Development. In 1981, Lois became a certified Examiner for Readiness under the Gesell Institute of Human Development.
Lois was the founder and Director of the former Little Children’s World in Branchville for 20 years before her retirement in 1995. Under her administration, Little Children’s World became the second center in the nation to receive accreditation by NAEYC, the National Association for Early Childhood Education. As a mentor for NAEYC, Lois presented workshops around the country from 1990-1995, and served as a validator for NAEYC from 1990-1996.
Lois was an author of educational resources: LEARNING THROUGH ALL FIVE SENSES in 1983, IS ADD A LEARNED BEHAVIOR? in 2010, and BETTER CHILDREN FOR A BETTER TOMORROW in 2015.
Lois was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Newton until her move to Florida. In over 60 years of membership, Lois was a member of the Administrative Board, a Sunday School Superintendent, a former Trustee, a Lay Speaker for 8 years, and served on many committees as well as an active member of the Come Together Club. Other community activities included Greater Seniors Club of Andover where she served as President and travel coordinator, a volunteer for Sussex County Interfaith Hospitality Network, a volunteer at Manna House on a weekly basis, involvement in United Way, as well as a serving as a volunteer at Newton Memorial Hospital’s Hospitality Shop for 6 years. She was a member of Sussex County Human Services Council as a child development advisor, served on SC Election Board for ten years and was a volunteer for Sussex County Helpline and Project Self-Sufficiency.
The daughter of the late Reeves Bailey and Viola Mae McCourt Bailey, and her late stepfather William Baker, Lois was predeceased by her brother, Beldon “Stretch” Bailey and his wife, Ruth. Lois was also predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Russell McCue, and her daughter, Pamela McCue Milone, and her son, George Huff. Lois is survived by her brother, Ray Baker and wife, Carol, of Dingman’s Ferry, Pennsylvania, two daughters, Terry Thonnerieux with husband, Michael, of Port Charlotte, Florida and Karen Bove-Quick of Neptune City; six grandchildren, Michael Thonnerieux and wife, Sarah, Amy Thonnerieux, Erica Munoz and husband, Matt, Tracy Conn and husband, Brooks, Rebecca Schick and husband, Earl IV, and Austin Bove, as well as eight great-grandchildren, Mitchell, Elliott, Colin, Claire, Ethan, Madelyn, Braelon, and Zoey. She is also survived by her wonderful extended family and friends.
Funeral arrangements are by Smith-McCracken Funeral Home. Visitation and a Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, November 11, at The First United Methodist Church of Newton, 111 Ryerson Avenue, Newton. Visitation will begin at 10 AM and the Celebration of Life at noon. Interment will immediately follow at Deckertown Union Cemetery in Sussex.
Memorial donations may be made to Manna House, 54 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860 or Tidewell Hospice Foundation, 3550 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239 or The First United Methodist Church of Newton, 111 Ryerson Avenue, Newton, NJ 07860. Online condolences may be made at www.smithmccrackenfuneral.com.