Lois Childress

Lois Childress, age 93, passed way January 27, 2022, at Coldwater Manor Nursing Home in Stratford, TX.

Lois Jean Decker was born May 2, 1928 to Dewey and Martha (Becker) Decker in Meno, OK. She joined an older brother, Dalton, and twin sisters Fay and Fern. Eventually a younger sister Marilyn would complete their family. When Lois was two years old, the family relocated to a small Texas community, known as Texline. Lois loved this tiny community and she ended up living the majority of her life there.

Lois was raised in a very devout Mennonite family. During the school term, Lois was sent to school in Meno, OK, at Oklahoma Bible Academy. During the summer months, Lois was busy helping out on the family farm. When Lois became high school age, she then attended school in Clayton, NM, graduating with the class of 1945.

When Lois was 17, she married Mr. Winifred (Tub) Childress. Five brief months later, Tub was killed in an unfortunate electrical accident. At that time Lois was already pregnant with their first child. Soon she would welcome her first daughter, Winifred Lee Childress.

Determined to succeed, Lois moved to Amarillo and attended Beauty School. This education resulted in years of owning two of her own beauty shops. Later in life she met and married Mr. Charles LaBarr, unto this union, they were blessed with her second daughter Renee LaBarr.

Lois was a spitfire. A hardworking and determined woman. She was born to be an entrepreneur. Over the years she owned numerous businesses anywhere from a Liquor Store to a Drug Store, to a Donut Shop and so on. Even though she had that red headed temper, she always had a laugh and a smile that lit up a room. She loved wearing the boldest of styles. You could find her in the church choir wearing her flashy hot pink sequent top any given Sunday. She was known for her beautiful long fingernails. No polish color was acceptable except her mixed signature mauve-pink. When she was younger, she spent many hours bowling on a league, and as she got older, she enjoyed cross stitching, puzzling and playing games with the others in the Texline community.

Lois was a long-standing member of The Texline United Methodist Church and served on many committees and positions. The Church meant so much to her.

Twelve years ago, once dementia started setting in, Lois moved back to Boise City and lived with her daughter Renee. Renee gave her the best care for 10 years until she knew it was time to move her to a nursing home. Lois had lived the last two and a half years in Stratford at the Coldwater Manor. The staff and residents became her comfort and they loved her like their own family. She was truly blessed to be taken care of by so many angels on earth. She lived there until she received her angel wings, hot pink sequent wings of course.

Lois is preceded in death by her parents Dewey & Martha Decker, Brother Dalton and his wife Lol, Sisters Fay Decker, Fern McClellan and husband Cecil, and Marilyn Finnigan, 1 daughter Winifred Rutherford, 1 son-in-law Gale Walker, and two husbands.

Survivors left to carry on her legacy include: daughter Renee Walker of Boise City, son-in-law Sam Rutherford of Elk City, Grandchildren Gayla Walker of Boise City, Jeanna Humphreys (Traye) of Oklahoma City, and Michael Rutz (Carol) of Perryton.
7 great-grandchildren
3 great-great grandchildren And a huge host of loved nephews, nieces, cousins, church family, and a long life of friendships.

Service Details

Memorial Service will be held on January 31st , 2022 at the Texline United Methodist Church with Jeff Bailey presiding.

Friends and family may sign the online guest book or leave an online condolence.
 

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