Lois Marlene (Avery) Holman was born on February 6, 1942. After eighty years and six months on earth Lois was welcomed into heaven on August 16, 2022. Those first in line to welcome her were her father Harold Lee Avery, her mother Lois Corlene (Snelling) Avery, and her husband of thirty-five years Raymond Russell Holman. Right behind them she found her sister Bonnie Biggers, nephew Bob Cardenas and she gave a big hug to her beloved niece Beatrice (Cardenas) Wheelock. Lois was a Christian and was baptized with her boys at the Ava General Baptist church in November of 1984.
Lois was born in Trenton, MO and moved to Kansas City as a child. In 1978 her family moved to Ava, MO where she spent many years as a resident raising her children. At the time of her passing she lived in Springfield, MO with her loving sister and partner in crime Shirley Moore. During her time on earth, Lois went by several different names; Lois, Baby Snooks, Snooks, Aunt Snooks, Mrs. Holman, and Monk but her favorite name to be called was Grandma. There were two people lucky enough to call her Mom. Her two sons Everett and Phillip Holman, both of Springfield, MO.
Some of her families’ favorite memories are her making the best hand cranked ice cream you have ever eaten. You knew you were important in her world if she let you lick the paddle. It was not a party if one of her angel food cakes was not on the table and if Phil was coming there would be peach pie, too. And, if you like homemade candy, you were in for a treat! Did we mention that she was diabetic? At Christmas you would find Lois’ home decorated as though Santa himself lived there. If you were going to be at her house on a holiday, she wanted you to feel welcomed and special….as long as you passed the food to the left during dinner.
Lois was always up for a new adventure. Being legally blind she could not drive, but somehow, she was always on the go. Nothing ever slowed her down. If she had any regrets, it would probably be that she did not get to go up in a hot air balloon, as she had planned for the day after her passing. Lois felt very comfortable with a deck of cards, a Yahtzee cup, or the joystick from a Pacman game in her hand. Pitch and rummy were a couple of her favorite card games and she considered herself a master at Chinese Checkers. Her kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews always knew that they had accomplished something special if they were able to beat her in a game.
Lois graduated from the Kansas City Business college. In her early years she worked as a secretary for the State of Missouri, Bureau for the Blind Kansas City Office. After raising her children, Lois spent 30 years working at the Lowes Home Improvement store on South Glenstone in Springfield, as a phone operator. She met some of her most valued friends during her time at Lowes. She had so many happy stories and a few complaints about her time there. She may not have always loved the job, but she truly loved the people.
Lois was a long-time member of the Order of the Eastern Star; she was a current member of the Kimberling City chapter.
Lois is survived by her sister Shirley Moore of Springfield, her son and daughter-in-law Everett and April Holman, her son and daughter-in-law Phillip and Rayla Holman, her grandson and his wife Brandon and Amanda Holman, a granddaughter Savannah Lamp and her husband Greg, a granddaughter Kimber Holman (the girl she always wanted), a grandson Gatson Holman, a nephew Monty Cardenas and his wife Tina, a great niece Ria Beaudoin and her husband Timmy, a great nephew Robbie Cardenas, a brand new great granddaughter Marcie Lamp and a host of other loving family members and friends.
Lois was asked before she passed about her childhood aspirations in life. Her answer was that all she really ever wanted to be was a great mother. Goal accomplished. Funeral services for Lois will be Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, MO with burial following in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. to service time. Officiating will be Pastor Buddy Boyd. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
