Lois Annie Gillan departed this life June 17, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. She was born September 26, 1927, daughter of James H. and Mabel Parnell Houghton on the ranch homesteaded by her grandfather, C.P. Houghton in Mitchell County, near Tipton, KS; the same homestead on Carr Creek, where her father was born. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Florence and brothers, Harold, who died in infancy, and Clifford. Her sister Margaret and her husband Jim reside in Kansas.
Her first four years of elementary education were acquired at Shockley School, one mile from her home. Then, the decision was made that the school system in Beloit, KS, some thirty miles away offered advantages important to the children. Thereafter, mother and children lived in Beloit on school days – going home only on weekends – until all the children graduated from high school. Lois graduated from Beloit High School, first in her class, in 1945, having earned a scholarship to Kansas State University.
She met the love of her life, Dale, at KSU. They were married July 20, 1947 at the Beloit Methodist Church. This joyous union spanned nearly 72 years.
She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Home Economics in 1949 from KSU. Following graduation, the family lived in the Garden City, KS – with a short intervening time in Wheatridge, CO. – until moving to Green Valley, AZ in 1989.
Her life was devoted to loving and caring for her husband, their children and their ever-growing family. She was a skilled seamstress, genealogist, philatelist and bookkeeper.
She loved snow skiing, ballroom dancing, travel and doing volunteer work at The White Elephant, a benevolent endeavor in Green Valley.
She leaves behind her husband, Dale, her six children and twelve grandchildren: Susan Rudick, Cedar Park, TX and daughters Kari Farmer, Leander, TX and Amy (Ryan) Hoselton, Broken Arrow, OK; Stephen (Mary Jo “Joey”), and children Clara and Jerome, Lexington, OH; Dale Jr. (Robin) Payson, AZ and sons Scott (Lisa), Mesa AZ, and Jeffrey, Tucson AZ; Kathleen (Chuck) Elsea, Salina, KS and sons Charlie (Kristi), Houston, TX and Jack, Alexandria, VA; Janice (Mike) Mines, Corinth, TX and children Kelli (Jeff) Smith, Denton, TX, Drew (Jenny) Mines, Charlottesville, VA and John Mark (Kendall) Mines, Laurel, MD; and Jonathan (Janene) and daughter Annie, Tempe, AZ; also, twelve great-grandchildren.
Her wisdom, her love and her steadfast loyalty will serve as a beacon to guide the footsteps of those who follow her throughout their lives.
The funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, June 24, 2019 at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201, with a visitation beginning at 1:30 pm. For more information, please visit www.bunkerfuneral.com.
My Thoughts are with the family. I hope you can find comfort where I too have found in the past, 2 Cor. 1:4 “Who comforts us in all our trials so that we may be able to comfort others in any sort of trail with the comfort that we receive from God.” Many are finding comfort at jw.org. I hope you are able to find comfort too.