Lois was born on June 22, 1926 to Gordis and Agnes Watts. She lived on a farm outside of Canby with her parents and sister, Virginia. During the Depression and WWll, Lois said that her family did not suffer as much as people who lived in the city. They were able to raise or grow their food, and trade with other farming families for the necessary foods and services.
Lois loved horses and dogs and early family pictures often included Lois with her horses and dogs. While Virginia showed her horses and entered rodeos, Lois just loved to ride them. Lois and Virginia would buy fancy tack, because they liked the “bling”. Lois remembers one set having silver hearts along it. Lois often commented as she watch the TV show, Gunsmoke, that Matt Dillon’s buckskin horse was like her horse “Honey Boy”.
Lois attended Canby Union High School from 1940 to 1944. In her Junior and Senior years of high school, Lois was a member of the Canby HS Twirlettes. During a Class Night Play, she and a girlfriend performed a “Novelty Dance”. In her high school newspaper, a Thumbnail Sketch of the “Ideal Girl” was created. Lois’ hands were included as part of the picture.
In a newsletter of one of the companies for whom she worked, they created snapshots of various employees.
For Lois:
Pet Peeve – Automatics
Favorite Foods – Anything, just so it’s food
Favorite Amusements – Riding and dancing
Hobby – Horses
Favorite Sport – Riding
Ambition – Still looking
In the journal from her 50th high school reunion, Lois wrote: “I loved high school, even when I took mixed choir. Even though I couldn’t sing. Still Can’t.”
When Lois was 16 years old, about 1940-41, Virginia’s husband taught each member of the family how to fly. When Lois soloed, she began her landing, but a line of trees were between her and the landing field. She gunned the plane to clear the trees, then landed. Her family ran up to the plane being very concerned for her. She said she didn’t know why they were so scared, she knew what she was doing.
Lois bought her first car in 1944, a neighbor sold her his car for $450.00. He was proud of the car’s “musical horns”. He told her that he was offered $550.. from another neighbor, but he wanted Lois to have it, since he thought she’d take better care if in. In 1947 her family went on a trip to Detroit to buy new cars. Auntie Ginge and her parents planned to buy new Pontiac’s from the factory. Lois decided to buy a new car as well and bought a 1947 green Pontiac. They had a great trip caravanning home.
In 1948, Lois was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her cousin and best friend, Connie Learfield to Lester Smith. The story is that George was taken by Lois, that he went through the receiving line several times, so he could kiss her. They married three months later.
Her daughters say that Lois was a good sport and approached things with humor – even when she needed to wrap a blanket around her for privacy, so she could use a coffee can on a small outboard motor boat while they were fishing. George had 4 kids and 2 adults in those small boats, and kept them out on the lake for several hours, so we could catch our limit. Imagine 4 kids in a small motor boat who had to keep still and quiet for hours!
Lois loved gardens, both visiting gardens and working in her own. She loved being around her family. She was always ready to play cards with grandkids. We especially enjoyed playing “Flying Dutchman”. While the rest of us were moving fast, slamming down cards, groaning or making excited monkey noises, Mom took her time looking to see what was in the middle and slowly putting her cards out. Her children and granddaughters loved the fast card games, but Lois took her own time. Her great grandson, Theo, remembers Lois as always winning at cards.
Lois really enjoyed family celebrations. She was game for anything. At Brianne’s 21st birthday party, she sat at the bar and donned a sombrero while doing shots. While the rest of us threw back shots, Lois daintily sipped hers. At Madelyn’s wedding, we had fun watching Lois at the bottom of a drink luge waiting for her drink to be pored down the slide.
Lois’ fun-loving spirit will be greatly missed.
Lois was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, George, in 2013; her two sons, Gerald, in 2010 and Dennis, in 2020; and her son-in-law, Michael McCary, in 2007. Lois is survived by her daughters, Victoria McCary and Renee Sykes; daughters-in-law, Ellen Otis-Sykes and Teri Sykes; granddaughters, Heather Wilson (Mark), Michelle McCary, Devyn Lomax (Steve), Madelyn Harrison (Doug), and Brianne Sykes; great-grandchildren, Theodore, Francis, Magdalena Wilson and Parker Lomax.
A Funeral Mass will be held for Lois on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 11 a.m., Rosary 30 minutes before at The Madeleine Parish, 3123 NE 24th Ave, Portland, Ore
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