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Life Story / Obituary


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Lois Louise (Morlock) Rodgers, age 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 11, 2017, at Traverse Manor in Traverse City, with her family by her bedside. In her last decade of life, she endured multiple serious medical afflictions and survived numerous surgical procedures and rounds of rehabilitation without serious complaint.

Lois was born on June 3, 1929, the daughter of Katherine Smith and Jacob Morlock. Lois was a child of the Great Depression and World War II. Her parents divorced when she was very young, and she was raised by maiden aunts. She learned the value of hard work at an early age, tending to the family cow and selling dairy products door to door. Lois graduated with honors from high school in Hersey, Michigan, and pursued nursing training at Little Traverse Hospital in Petoskey. Sadly, her father's untimely death brought an end to that training. Lois returned to Hersey where she met and married the love of her life, her husband Phil. Lois worked full time in a factory to put him through college and she was very proud of his long career as an elementary school teacher and principal. When her children Philip and Catharine were born, Lois became a stay-at-home mother. Eventually, she returned to work and managed a retail bakery in Cadillac.

Lois and Phil enjoyed travel, fishing, boating and snowmobiling with friends and family. They created many wonderful memories at their family cabin in Irons, Michigan. They were married for 48 years when Phil passed away unexpectedly at the age of 66 in 1991. After his passing, Lois's determined nature led her to a new phase of her life. She dearly loved a succession of dogs who, in her husband's absence, were a great comfort to her and always by her side. Lois wintered in Florida and her love of travel took her on a number of cruises, a tour of Alaska, trips to Mexico and she even attended a Rose Bowl. Sadly, her beloved Michigan Wolverines were not playing that year. Lois was a crafty gambler and paid for her cruises with her winnings at the craps table. She often said, "Slots are for suckers." Lois loved card games, especially the sometimes raucous sessions of Hearts that she played with her grandchildren and their spouses as recently as a few months ago. FaceTime with the grandkids generated lots of giggles too, as Lois could never quite figure out how to hold the phone.

Lois enjoyed people and became close to her Florida friends, particularly Bob and Jim, Rona, and Rosa. Their support system was invaluable. In Cadillac she was especially close to Lois and Wanda Thompson. Her special friend Betty Cook helped Lois remain independent during her last few summers in Cadillac. But most of all, Lois loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lois is survived by her son Philip Rodgers, her daughter-in-law Susan, and their four children Philip (Mansi) Rodgers, Emma (Brent) Biebuyck, Hannah (Alexander) Hope, and Julia Rodgers, as well as two great-grandchildren Leila and Amelia. Lois was delighted to be able to interact with her little great-granddaughters, who visited her at the Manor. She is also survived by her daughter Catharine (Thomas) Kinsley and their children Megan and Thomas.

The family would like to thank Lois's wonderful caregivers at Traverse Manor and the kind staff of Hospice of Michigan for making her final days and months safe and comfortable. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has already taken place and the family has concluded a private memorial service, topped off with an Irish toast.

Please visit www.lifestorytc.com to sign the guest book and share your thoughts and memories with the family.

Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City.