Lois Edwards Nelson
Lois Edwards Nelson was the oldest of three children born to Alta and Henry DeLancey and the last surviving member of the DeLancey family after her younger sister Janice pasted away 10 years ago and their middle brother Alan 6 years before that.
Lois was the mother of five children; Michael, Mary Leigh and Tom she welcomed into her life with her marriage to Byron Edwards; they added two more with the birth of Robert and Carol.
In her early years of marriage Lois proved to be a talented self-taught painter, recreating images from Life and National Geographic magazines, clown portraits, and Impasto abstract art, before shifting her talent into cooking, often preparing exquisite family meals to rival the best culinary dishes from around the globe. Lois also baked all the family birthday cakes, made Christmas cookies with her children and sewed her children’s clothes and costumes. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, an active member in the PTA and the friendly neighborhood Avon Lady.
After spending most her life caring for others Lois learned she should also take better care of herself. She quit smoking, then drinking, joining AA with her new companion Karl. Together they would travel the Pacific Northwest and Mexico where she had, “The best meat she ever tasted in her life!” Soon after returning to the states Lois became a vegetarian. They would settle in Arizona but in time grew apart.
Now living in Quartzsite, Lois took up Clowning in earnest. It was through this noble profession that she met Vern and the two were love struck and married on Valentine’s Day. They soon moved to Oregon where they joined many local social groups, The American Legion, the Tygh Valley Community Center, and Molly B’s AA meetings. But Vern’s health eventually failed, and Lois once again found herself on her own. So, of course she immersed herself further into the community, delivering Meals on Wheels from the Community Center and writing a monthly column called the “Pine Grove News” in this very paper.
To Lois’ surprise she found love once again when she met John Jensen a couple of years after Vern’s passing. She sold her place and moved to John’s ranch were they both kept gardens, raised goats to sell at auction, and refurbished and revived the local Pine Grove Community Center. Lois joined the Maupin Garden Club and after several years was awarded the prestigious honor of “Master Gardener”. She was also known simply as the “Soup Lady” for her exceptional creations at the Tygh Valley senior lunches.
Lois was a loving mother, a loyal companion, cherished friend, and respected community member who will live on in our memories.
Please Join Us To Celebrate Lois’ Life
Maupin Community Church
June 5, 2021, at 1:00 pm
490 5th Street
Reception on the patio following the church service