Lois Anne Stewart, 76, passed away September 17, 2016 at home and in the company of her loving family. She was born in Pocatello, May 15, 1940, the second of three children born to Lewis Walter Cox and Viella (Ella) Gribble Cox. Her siblings were an older brother, James (Jim) and a younger sister, Lorna.
Lois Anne grew up on a small acreage located at 2445 South 2nd Ave. where her parents raised their own beef, a milk cow, lambs, chickens, cats and dogs; they also maintained a large vegetable garden, a raspberry patch, and a flower garden. When she later married a farmer—rancher, she felt right at home in that environment.
Her earlier days centered around grade school at Lincoln Elementary, attending Primary for children at the LDS 12th Ward, and Franklin Jr. High School. She was active in 4-H and learned to cook and sew, winning ribbons at the fair. She also took ballet and tap dance lessons; she then switched to piano lessons at which she excelled. Lois Anne was called to play the piano and organ at Church. During her teen years she joined a singing group of nine girls called the Triple-Trio for which she accompanied on the piano. They performed at Church meetings, funerals, and at Primary General Conference in Salt Lake City. She also joined an all-girls dance group and went to Salt Lake City and danced with a multitude of girls from many different wards in the Church.
As a senior at Pocatello High School, Lois Anne earned money by working evenings as a nurses’ aide at the old Saint Anthony Hospital. While working there she met her future husband, Gene Alden Stewart, who was visiting his father at the hospital. Lois Anne and Gene continued dating and writing each other for the next two years as she attended ISU, majoring in elementary education, and he advanced his agricultural studies at the U of I. They were married on June 25, 1960 in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, and settled down in Gene’s ranch home in Arbon Valley, Idaho. Their marriage was later solemnized in the LDS Idaho Falls Temple. Their union has been blessed with 5 children, 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Another great-grandchild will be born soon which will make the count 14 great-grandchildren.
In 1964 Lois Anne started teaching the lower grades at Arbon Elementary School and continued for eight years. She also drove the Arbon School Bus for Gene when he was too busy with the farm work to drive the bus. In summer months, she assisted Gene with work on the farm, including driving a crawler tractor, hay stacker, and grain truck. As there was no phone service at the ranch home, her brother taught her to operate a ham amateur radio and she became a certified ham radio operator so she could stay in touch with her family. She also created the TOPS Club in Arbon for those wanting to lose weight.
In 1969 she was nominated and received an award as an “Outstanding Young Woman of America” by the Outstanding Americans Foundation. This national foundation recognizes one young woman from each state every year for her outstanding accomplishment in community service, in religious and political activities, and in professional endeavors.
Lois Anne also received a Certificate of Honor as “Farm Woman of the Year” from Farm Wife News in recognition of her dedication, talent, enthusiasm, and personal interest in rural living.
In 1973 they built a home in Pocatello where Lois Anne operated an in-home daycare and preschool for eight years. She enjoyed teaching and loved the children in her care. She spent later years enjoying gardening, growing flowers, toll painting, dutch oven cooking, knitting, crocheting, visiting with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved her two Shih Tzu dogs named Buffy and Pawco.
She loved having sleep-over parties with the grandchildren where they would play games, laugh and giggle. The next day she would take them to McDonald’s for a Happy Meal. She would order one also and give her toy to her grandchild so they could have two toys. She adored and cherished her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren.
Lois Anne was active in the LDS Church from an early age and served in many callings on the branch, ward, stake and temple level, including Pianist and Organist, Primary Teacher, Activity Days Teacher for young girls, Stake Relief Society Counselor, Stake Primary President, and Initiatory Temple Worker. She and Gene also served a two-year LDS Service Mission in the 1st Ward Pocatello Stake. She was frequently requested to play the organ at various funeral services of friends and neighbors.
Lois Anne is survived by her sister, Lorna (Michael) Bartlett (McCammon); her husband, Gene Stewart (Pocatello); their children, Gregory (Hanna) Stewart, (Spokane); Jeffrey (Sheri) Stewart, (Arbon); Vickie (Joe) Christensen, (Pocatello), Amy K. Stewart, (Salt Lake City); Jeremy (Amy Lynne) Stewart, (Tooele), 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, James (Jim) Walter Cox; and one grandson, Michael Greg Stewart.
She will be greatly missed until we can all once again gather as an eternal family in paradise.
A viewing will be held on Friday, September 23, 2016 from 6-8 pm at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. 4th Ave. Pocatello, ID.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 11 am at the Pocatello Stake Building, 655 S. Grant Ave. Pocatello, ID, with a viewing from 10-10:45 am prior.
Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, 2864 S. 5th Ave. Pocatello, ID.