Lois N. Crow

Stuarts Draft – Lois Noyes Crow, 90, passed away Thursday May 2, 2024 at her residence in Stuarts Draft Retirement Community.Lois was born in Winfield, Kansas in 1934 to Pearl (Moss) and Skip Noyes. She is survived by daughter, Tanya (Norris) Brenneman (husband Leland) and son, Tracy Norris (wife Lisa); 3 grandchildren: Katie Ding (husband David), David Brenneman, (wife Tiffany), Stephanie Hett, (husband Forrest); and 8 great-grandchildren, Anna and Molly Ding, Jessalyn, Gabriella, Sophia and Zachariah Brenneman, and Kelsey, Kamryn, Landon and Brody Hett. Lois also exhibited her loving care to 5 foster children, 2 refugee children and 2 step-children whom she welcomed into her home.Lois was a single mom who worked hard to provide for her two children during some very difficult years. She made life wonderful by loving them unequivocally and helped develop their talents in music. She filled their home with music, beauty, games, security, great food, fun outings, and made sure all their needs were met. Her son, Tracy, says “There was never a time that I didn’t feel my mother’s deep love and affection for me and without question she supported me in all aspects of my personal life and professional career”.Later her grandchildren were the lights of her life! She invited them to stay the night, and had fun late-night talks with them. She planned creative times of baking cookies, cakes and making gingerbread houses. She organized individualized crafts and games for them and she always sang fun songs with them. Her birthday parties for them were extravaganzas of crepe paper jungles and loads of outdoor games and prizes. She created special memories for them that will last a lifetime.A dominant characteristic of Lois was joy. She expressed her joy in her piano playing, interior design, baking and cooking, games, parties, crafts, picnics, wading in streams, the awe of spring flowers and rapture at fall foliage. She wrote funny narratives of her experiences and lots of clever poems. She shared her joy in many ways over the years in the churches she served. She led children’s choirs, directed vacation Bible schools, taught children’s church, and played the piano for church services. She utilized her gifts of writing and editing in many professional roles over the years in churches, medical offices, and universities. She also taught English as a second language to immigrants. Later in life, she left her home in Kansas to help her family run an Assisted Living Facility in Stuarts Draft, Virginia where her roles over 13 years included managing the meal service, directing activities, and giving nursing care to the residents. She brought fun, laughter and loving care to so many, especially her family during their family gatherings. She also enjoyed traveling to Guatemala, Fiji, England and Scotland with family.Lois came to know Jesus as her savior as a child, and later in life came to a deeper experience of the love of God. She devoted herself to much research of scripture which gave her a solid footing for life. Her favorite pastime was prayer- experiencing the loving presence of her Savior. The passion of her heart was that others experience the wellspring of love and joy that flow from God’s own smiling face. This love and joy flowing into hearts transforms, sets free, and gives solid ground upon which to stand. May we follow her example – living life in the streams of light, peace, love and joy which emanate from our loving Father’s face.A private burial took place at Greenmonte Fellowship Cometary, Stuarts Draft.A memorial gathering is planned for Sunday, May 5, at 4:30 at the home of Leland and Tanya Brenneman. Friends and family are welcome.