Lois M. (Luckey) Woods

Lois Maxine (Luckey) Woods obituary

Lois Maxine (Luckey) Woods was born on the family farm south of Glen Elder, Kansas, on April 12, 1927. She was the eighth of ten children born to Weldon Wilbur and Florence Pleasant (Deeds) Luckey. She went to meet her Lord and Savior on December 28, 2015.

Lois attended Antelope grade school, Glen Elder. She had her first job as a sophomore in high school, doing housework for a woman from 5 am – midnight with no breaks, seven days a week. As a junior and senior in high school Lois worked so that she could stay in Glen Elder and graduate with her class in 1944. She had fond memories of working for Mrs. Frank (Ethyl) Humes. Lois also worked for Ethel’s daughter Jeanette and husband Wilson Neff at Neff’s Grocery Store after school and Saturdays 8 am – midnight.

After graduation, Lois moved to Salina to attend Brown Mackie School of Business. She worked in the office as well as at People’s Cafeteria to put herself through school. In the spring of 1945, she was recruited by Production Credit Corp., Beloit, to become their secretary. That fall she went to work for the Beloit Farm Bureau Office. She then went to work for the Mitchell County Extension Office.

Lois met Rex Woods in the spring of 1947, and they were married September 7, 1947, in Beloit. Since Rex was attending the University of Kansas, they made their home in Lawrence. Lois put Rex through school by working as the only secretary for 3 lawyers. One was a former Kansas Attorney General, one a Lawrence City Attorney and member of the Kansas House of Representatives, and one was a Criminal Lawyer and State Senator.

In 1950, she and Rex moved to Salina where Lois was a secretary for a lawyer until the day before her son Rod was born. She typed at home for the next five years. After her youngest child went to kindergarten, she went back to work. She worked for Rex until the 1970’s.

After she and Rex got a divorce, Lois became the receptionist at Kansas Technical Institute and worked there through the transition to K-State Salina. She worked there until her retirement.

Lois loved playing bridge and played into her 80’s. She believed she stayed healthy because of her daily trips to the YWCA at 6:30 in the morning to do aquacize. Maintaining her home and yard and doing her church’s newsletter were her favorite pastimes.

Lois is preceded in death by: her parents; brothers – John, Lawrence, and Noel; sisters – Blanche, Medora, Nola and Bernice; and daughter – Pam Nowak.

She is survived by: son – Rod and wife, Sue Woods, Belleville; daughter – Terri and husband, Steve Melby, Mankato; Seven grandchildren – Christina Nowak, Kelle, and husband, Bob Hull, Bethany and husband, Clay Cass, Ericka and husband, Clint Berry, Aaron Melby, Ryan Woods, and Hillary Woods. Three great-grandchildren – Jace, Torah, and Tyler Hull; brothers, Francis and Weldon; many, many nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.

A celebration of life services for Lois Woods will be (were) held Saturday January 1, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. from the Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas. Pastor Dennis Beckmann officiated. Pat Grout was the pianist. Pall bearers were: Ryan Woods, Bob Hull, Clay Cass, Clint Berry, Dean Sandlin, Mitch Morgan, and Jon Weisbecker. Honorary bearers were: David Nowak, Chrissy Nowak, Kelle Hull, Bethany Cass, Ericka Melby, Aaron Melby, Hillary Woods, and Rob Morgan. Interment was in High Prairie Cemetery, Glen Elder, Kansas. Visitation will be (was) Friday, January 1, 2016, at the Melby Mortuary Chapel, Mankato, from 2pm to 4 pm. The family requests that memorials go to Lois Woods Memorial Fund. Online condolences can be left at www.melbymortuary.com. Melby Mortuary, Mankato was in charge of arrangements.