Lois Ann Woods (1942-2021)

WOODS, RAGAN, WILSON

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 11/5/2021 at 15:11:59

Our “Dear Heart,” Lois Ann (Wilson) Woods, age 79, passed away at The Promise House, in Hiawatha, Iowa, on November 3, 2021, from complications due to a stroke initially suffered in March.

Born in Marshalltown, Iowa, on January 10, 1942, to loving parents Virgil and Edna (Ragan) Wilson, Lois grew up in a very humble, country house with no electricity, nor running water, located along Highway 30 and Gladstone, four miles East of Tama/Toledo.
For this freckled, redhead, an upbringing lacking monetary resources and requiring daily work by all family members to “get through the day,” was nurtured by parents that taught and lived by the golden rule, “Love thy neighbor.”

Lois attended a one-room schoolhouse as the only girl among eight total students through eighth grade, and graduated from Tama High School, in 1960. A year later she moved to Cedar Rapids to attend beauty school and became a licensed beautician for 19 years at Peg’s Beauty Salon, one of Cedar Rapids’ most prestigious hair salons. After Peg’s, Lois jumped to a new career, and became a very successful salesperson for Kirby Vacuum, and Smokenders. Her desire to help people led to a position with FEMA, which took Lois to many natural disasters across the United States, but always left her with a genuine compassion and feeling of hope for all people.

During Lois’ time in beauty school two of the biggest things that shaped the remainder of her life occurred. The first, actually began in high school. While she grew up in a most loving and respectful home, church was not attended, and not much was ever mentioned of it. Lois knew God exists and devised her own plan to find Him. She selected four of her high school girlfriends, all of different Christian denominations, and Lois pretty much invited herself to spend a “Saturday overnight,” knowing they were going to attend their churches the next morning. The fourth church she attended in four weeks was the Catholic church. Very quickly, just after the initial ringing of the bells and the entrance of the priest, Lois said to herself, “Now this is a religion!” Lois attended Catechism while at beauty school, and after constantly sharing her enthusiasm after classes, her roommate soon became a convert as well!

Her second, came at the request of another girlfriend who invited Lois to a softball game at Ellis Park to meet somebody she might like. This somebody turned out to be the love of her life, Gary Woods.

Once together, this couple became inseparable. They married on June 1, 1963, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, in Tama. Lois and Gary were blessed with two sons, Curt (Karen) of Cedar Rapids, and Douglas (Colleen) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren, Nathan (Rebecca) of Nolensville, Tennessee, Shelby (Caleb) Jamison of Cedar Rapids, Corbin of Chicago, Illinois, Michaela of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Connor of Buies Creek, North Carolina; and three great-grandchildren.

Irish ancestry was very important to Lois, and another part of her legacy continues today with the annual SaPaDaPaSo Parade. Lois was one of the initial members, served as President, and attended every parade until her illness made new plans.

Lois is survived by her husband, Woody; sons, Curt (Karen) and Doug (Colleen); all of her grandchildren; great-grandchildren, Adeline and Josiah (Cedar Rapids), Victoria and her new baby brother expected to arrive on Lois’ 80th birthday (Nolensville); sister, Mary Rodman (Sioux Falls, South Dakota); brothers, Bolton (Donna) Wilson, (Salt Lake City, Utah), William (Kathy) Wilson, (Las Vegas, Nevada); and brothers/sisters-in-law, Mary Jane Davis (Anamosa, Iowa), Steve and Dorothy Woods (Mason City, Iowa), Sue and John Weldon (Cedar Rapids), William and Deb Woods (Mason City, Iowa) and Jean and Fred Meyer (Mt. Vernon, Iowa).

She was preceded in death by her loving parents; father and mother-in-law, Clarence and Ivanell Woods (Elkader, Iowa); brothers-in-law, Lyle Rodman and Dave Davis; and nephew, Robert (Bobby) Woods.

Rosary is offered at 3:30 p.m. with visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 5, with a vigil service at 6:30 p.m. at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Saturday, November 6, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, with Fr. Bahl presiding. Burial will follow at Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Lois’ beautiful life!

The family would like to thank Abbey Whalen and her caring, loving caregivers of The Promise House for taking wonderful care of Lois during her entire stay, especially in her final days.

Lois had a joyful, vibrant, and positive spirit, traits all whom she encountered would quickly come to love about her. Her clothing and jewelry had a style all her own. A perfect day for Lois was eating every meal out, especially when the day would start at Mikhael’s Restaurant. She loved to sing and dance, and she went by her own special rhythm. And nobody could wear a bandana like her.

We love you, Dear Heart!
Some day when we meet up yonder
We’ll stroll hand in hand again
In a land that knows no partin’
Blue eyes cryin’ in the rain…..
-- Willie Nelson

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