Lois Lavelle Whiteson

Lois LaVelle Nichols Whitson, 89, of Lake Kiowa, Texas, was peacefully released from life Monday morning, November 10, 2008. Born on April 1, 1919, near Hendrix, Oklahoma, to Thomas and Sarah Jane Nichols, she was the 10th of ten children. Her siblings all passed away prior to her own death.



On July 1, 1942, she married the love of her life, Freeman William Whitson who preceded her in death on June 7, 1987.



Lois Whitson was a life time educator both as a vocation and an avocation and she was also a silent philanthropist that helped people without having to put her name to her financial and physical kindnesses. She had both a bachelor's and a master's degree in education and taught all levels of public school, 1-12, for 45 years. She served on the Texas State Textbook Committee for several years. She also served as a reading consultant for the Region IX Service Center and ended her career as Director of Elementary Education for the Wichita Falls Independent School District. She retired in 1984.



Lois was a member and officer in many educational, service, church, and social organizations including Delta Kappa Gamma, the Lake Kiowa Women's Club, the First Baptist Church and various bridge and gin clubs. She was a super competitor, but a better loser than a winner since she could not resist "crowing" when she won. She traveled widely, visiting all the continents except Antarctica; for which she had plans. She researched all the places she visited and saw each experience as an educational opportunity as well as a source of joy.



Lois had a long life and wasted not a moment of it. She loved her family, whom she inspired, and they were devoted to her. She loved her friends and they loved and enriched her life. She had no regrets because she always did the best she could with energy and zest.



Lois Whitson is proudly survived by her daughter and son-in-law Carol and Bill Dollar of Runaway Bay, Texas; her grandson Billy Ray Dollar, Jr., his wife Mary Jo Dollar of Gainesville, their children Natalie Rae Dollar and Charles William Dollar of Denton; granddaughter Alison LaVelle Dollar Weinberg, her husband Robert Weinberg of Dallas, their children Whitson Weinberg and Wells Weinberg; grandson Lee Whitson Dollar, his wife Dana Dollar of Denton, their children Alexi Dollar and Liam Dollar, all hope to pass her incredible spirit on into the world she loved so well.



Funeral services for Mrs. Whitson will be held Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. at the First Baptist Church in Gainesville. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery in Gainesville with Dr. Mark Denison is officiating. No Visitation is planned.



Pallbearers will be Ray Freeman, Frank Odell, James Robinson, Russell Rowlins, Charles Woolfolk, Virgil Musick.



Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society or the First Baptist Church of Gainesville Building Fund.