Lois Walker

Funeral services for Lois P. Walker, 84, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 1, 2017 at First Baptist Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Walker passed away peacefully in her home Sunday, August 27, 2017.

Lois was born August 24, 1933 near Mtn. Home, Arkansas and grew up in Gainesville, Missouri, where she attended school.  Not only did she graduate from Gainesville High School in 1952, she also met the love of her life, James W. Walker.  The couple met in the 6th grade and then married March 28, 1953.  They were married sixty-four years, and had lived in Gainesville, West Plains and Cabool.  James and Lois’s work life together began in 1969 establishing Walker Insurance Agency and later Owens Insurance Agency, finally retiring in 2013.

Lois was a proud Christian woman.  In 1960 Lois and James became members of the First Baptist Church in West Plains, Missouri.  Not only did she find spiritual knowledge, strength and joy at FBC, she and James were part of a special group of forever friends that shared every moment of each other lives.  The bond that tied Warren and Ruth Fletcher, George and Pat Osborn, Perk and Louise Perkins, Newt and Carolyn Brill, Ken and Peggy (later Joan) Gammill, Harold and Ina Tipton, Roy and Pattye Lester, Leroy and Betty Vaughan, Dane and Dorothy Ann Smith was actually thick as blood and they considered each other family.   Through the years they shared many monthly dinners, numerous family milestones and adventures that usually turned into someone’s car trunk full of antiques.  Those still here cherish these memories, while many of the others who have graduated to be with their Lord are now rejoicing as Lois has joined them.  During their marriage Lois and James had two sons, Jerry and Mike.  Lois was a proud mother of her boys and brought them up in church and did her best to instill her strong love of the lord and her church.  Along with the love for her sons, Lois adored her first granddaughter, Hillary Walker (step-daughter of Jerry Walker and mother Dottie Summers).  Her love for Christmas was infectious and many blessed memories surround this season.  In 2005, Lois experienced a love like no other, a fireball of a granddaughter, Sophie Walker was born.  Sophie lit the Walker home once again with joyful laughter and innocence that gave the family purpose.  Lois taught Sophie many old school traditions and values, but among the most important was Christian faith and love of family.  Special memories will be forever cherished of the Pumpkin Patch, Christmas and Easter Sundays.  Lois spent many years enjoying entertaining and traveling, but dear to her was the beginning of spring which brought about her love for her flowers and lawn appearance.  In our family, she was famous for her pies, rolls and Christmas Casserole (which Hillary and Sophie are already searching for the treasured recipe).  Lois was also known for her impeccable fashion which involved her beloved friend, Florence James.   Her taste in antiques and home décor brought about many items her family will cherish and remember her by.

Her parents, Verdon and Madge Payne, brothers, Verdon Payne Jr. and wife Illa Dean Payne, and Bob Payne, precede her in death.

She is survived by her husband, James Walker, of the family home; two sons, Jerry Walker and wife, Chrissy and their daughter Sophia, of West Plains, Missouri; and Michael Walker and wife, Anush, of Burbank, California; granddaughter, Hillary Tugwell and husband, Jim, and their children, Emma, Kate, and James, of West Plains, Missouri; two nieces, Verdenna Lavaar and husband, Guy of St. Louis, Missouri and Phyllis Fruen and husband, Hank of St. Louis, Missouri; as well as two sisters-in-law, grand nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church or American Heart Association and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.