Lois Eileen Smith

August 12, 1929  –  September 17, 2023

Obituary

Lois Eileen Smith (GMa LoLo) at age 94 went to be with our Lord on September 17, 2023. Living with congestive heart failure & atrial fibrillation since 2010, she was still active, lived alone, and drove her car until the age of 91. Lois was born on August 12, 1929 in Springfield, Illinois to William Charles and Helen Edna (Mester) Ziegler. Her 3 older brothers, William Louis, Robert Glenn, Clark Albert Ziegler, and her nephew, Robert Thomas Ziegler have all pre-deceased her as did her 2 sons, Dale William Shaw and Frank Edwin Shaw, Jr., daughter, Teresa Elizabeth Smith Garuz, great-granddaughter, Camille Rose Jaeger, and loving husband of 32 years, Milton Seymour Smith.

When Lois was in the 4th grade, she was in a combination 4/5 class. She’d complete her 4th grade work but would listen to the 5th grade assignments and hand them in to the teacher also. The next year she skipped 5th grade and went on to the 6th grade. At age 15, she converted to Catholicism by befriending a woman who played the organ at her Lutheran Church and also at the Catholic Church. Both Lois and her mother, Helen, played the piano expertly. Lois graduated from high school at age 16, she had been a cheerleader, the homecoming queen, and worked on the tri-school newspaper where she met her 1st husband, Frank E. Shaw. They married August 6, 1949 and moved to St. Louis, MO where Frank attended law school and they welcomed their first child, Dale. They then settled back in Springfield, IL and had 5 more children. In August 1962 with no air conditioning, Lois drove 2,000 miles in 7 days from IL to CA with her 6 children, her cousin Loretta, and daughter, Sally. They settled in Pomona, CA to be with Lois’ mother and brothers. In 1969, she received her BA in Social Studies with a Minor in Psychology at Cal Poly Pomona. She worked as a Social Worker and later studied with Moshe Feldenkrais in Israel to become a Feldenkrais Practioner, a holistic method to ease pain through gentle movement with holistic integration of the body and mind.

In 1962, Lois and her 6 children met Milton and Evelyn Smith with their 6 children who lived across the street. They were family friends with children the same ages attending St. Joseph Elementary School in Pomona. When Lois and her children moved in 1966 to another area of Pomona, they met the Vislay family and her best friend to this day, AnnRoy. After Milton had been a widower, Danny and Cecily asked if their parents would like to join them on a picnic. Lois and Milton then married on September 7, 1974. They were active in the lives of their 12 children, 27 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren (+ 1 due in January), 1 great-great grandchild, 11 nieces & nephews, 16 great-nieces & nephews, 15 great-great-nieces & nephews, and 2 great-great-great-nieces & nephews (+ 1 due in April). Together they attended graduations (8th grade through doctorate), birthday parties, family dinners, open houses, award ceremonies, plays, musical performances, sports games, rodeos, brandings, religious Sacraments, Girl Scouts, school field trips, baby & bridal showers, weddings, grandchildren births plus staying months to help the new parents, and they hosted many family holiday dinners. GMa LoLo loved shopping for all the above occasions to give gifts or would give money or coins. She and GPa Miltie delighted in the grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s joy of receiving the gift. Lois and Milton’s favorite holiday was Easter where they’d hide plastic filled eggs with assigned colors and the names of each grandchild. They loved seeing the children’s excitement searching for and opening their personal color eggs filled with goodies.

We all miss her dearly and her great sense of humor.

Lois and Milton’s 12 children are:

Dale (Sharon) Shaw, Cyndy (George) Jaeger, Vivian (Kenny) Lamphear, Frank Jr. (Tina) Shaw, Cecily (Peter) Scala, Michelle (Victor) Wahl, Stephanie Smith, Bob Smith, Teri (Miguel) Garuz, Lorrie (Peter) Raia, Danny Smith, and Rose Sullivan.

Their 27 grandchildren are:

Katrina, Heidi, Hans, Hayden, Ryan, Dylan, Jennifer, Carissa, Katie, Crystal, Alyssa, Adriana, Jeffrey, Amelia, Rob, Brian, Matt, Sarah, David, Elizabeth, Howard, Julie, Roberto, Julia, Jenilee, Peter, and Daniel.

Lois’ Nieces and Nephews are:

Tommy (Janet) Ziegler, Judy (AL) Foster, Chuck (Jane) Metzger, Nancy (Scott) Humes, Linda (Barry) Turner, Sherry (Greg) Kipp, MaryEllen (Loyal) Smith, Mike (Mary) Shaw, Patti (Steve) Groenek, Kenny (Joy) Shaw, Lynette (Shane) Clontz.

Service is outside with a roof covering and a few benches

Wear something orange, her favorite color & cowboy/girl boots if you have them

In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to:

Madrone Hospice

255 Collier Circle

Yreka, CA 96097

530-842-3160

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