Lois Nelson

Nelson, Lois M. On December 1rst 2020 at 5:09 PM there was incredible roaring cheer at the pearly gates of the kingdom of heaven. Instruments of all kinds started to play celebratory songs and angels were singing along. All the angels of the kingdom of heaven rushed towards the pearly gates. When one Angel asked another angel who was rushing towards the gates what is the commotion about, what is the celebration all about? The angel answered, you mean you really do not know? Why Lois Mae Nelson has entered the Kingdom of heaven!! This celebration of Lois's 94 years and 10 months life continued for many days afterwards. Lois's family members that went to the kingdom of heaven before her are as follows: father Ambrose McCully, mother Dorothy McCully, former spouse Cliff Nelson, brother Joseph McCully, sister Marion McCully/Schippers, nephew David Schippers, niece Mary Louise Schippers/Horn, Nephew Joseph "Mac" McCully, aunt Hazel Courtney/Schilling, aunt Irene Courtney/Stephenson, aunt Gladys Courtney/DeHan, aunt Lucille Courtney/Louden, nephew Edward Courtney, nephew Dean Courtney, sister-in-law Mildred Farthing/McCully, sister-in-law Virginia "Ginny" Kane/McCully, Uncle Charles McCully, aunt Geneva McCully/Larson. Lois's Family members still here on earth are as follows: son Donald Nelson, daughter Deborah Nelson/Vaughn/Fletcher, brother Robert "Bob" McCully, nephew Kevin McCully, nephew Dean McCully, nephew Brian McCully, niece in-law Bonnie Berlin/Schippers, grand-niece Heather Horn, grand-niece Shannon Schippers, grand-nephew William Schippers, grandson Nicholas Fletcher, great grandson Jackson Fletcher, nephew Kevin McCully, niece Katie McCully/Bohm, nephew *Timothy McCully, Grand-niece Carolyn Bohm, grand-nephew Carl Bohm. Lois was born in Kalamazoo Michigan at Borgess Hospital on January 30, 1926. Not too long after Lois had been born it was discovered she had a heart defect. As well she was diagnosed with polio. However, through Lois's entire life she never let these two deficiencies stop her from doing anything she wanted to do or reason not to do something. The evidence of this was in the first words Lois spoke "me helps me self". Not long after Lois entered grade school it became apparent to the teachers Lois was a very gifted child. So much so she was moved up two grades ahead. This resulted in Lois enrolling in college at Western Michigan University when she was 16 years old. Lois attended Central High School in Kalamazoo and was appointed editor of the Central High School news and vice president of the student council. In addition, Lois painted a mural in the high school which portrayed a typical recreation center. A gift that the Lord had blessed Lois with was that of an artist. Lois had an incredible artistic talent. She could have easily been a remarkably successful artist or an architect. Instead, she chose to raise two children. Any kind of artistic venue Lois could do, and she did do. After Lois graduated high school, she worked at Ingersoll (a defense plant that made tanks at that point) doing the accounting while attending Western Michigan University. While working and going to college Lois volunteered as a junior hostess for the USO dances held at Western Michigan University. Lois's job was to make the servicemen feel at home, give them momentary escape from the war, from homesickness offering them laughter friendship and beauty (and Lois was never short on beauty!). After college Lois went to work for Western Michigan University as assistant to the comptroller. After Lois got married her and her husband Cliff built houses together, which are some of the most sought-after houses in Kalamazoo to date. Of course, Lois did the architectural design of these houses. One of the designs was the sunken living room, which was exceedingly popular back then and still is today. But Lois's role in building houses was not just limited to the architectural part. She pounded nails and laid down shingles with the men as well. Again, not letting her physical health problems stop her from doing this. In addition, Lois worked for Welcome Wagon a nonprofit organization that welcomed all new residence to the Kalamazoo area, a District Manager for Investors Diversified Services, the Executive Secretary for the Kalamazoo first United Methodist Church, taught Sunday school for first United Methodist Church. Lois also taught in the Head Start program which was a program just getting started back then. Lois did not just wait for the kids to show up, if they could not make it, she would go to their home and pick them up. As well, if necessary, she would take them home too. This is just one of the many positive marks Lois made in her time here on earth. Lois was a loan processing supervisor and loan closer for Kalamazoo Savings and Loan. Lois was highly successful as a loan officer, so much so the real estate agents would near come to blows to make sure Lois closed their customers loans. Because they knew if Lois closed the loan there will be no problems, there would be no mistakes. Now this did not sit really well with the other male loan officers. Lois was just doing her job, excelling as much as she could in it. She was also doing her part to push that glass ceiling up to make room for other women after she retired. Lois continued her education training after college through securities training, getting certified in real estate principles in real estate law mortgage. During Lois's family raising years she served in a wide range of community service areas which included leadership roles in faculty women's organization both at Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College. Lois as a mother made sure her children had a well-rounded upbringing by making sure they were unrolled into Western Michigan University "Campus School" (the most sought after school in the state at the time) enrolled in dramatic classes at Campus School, enrolled in Kalamazoo junior civic acting classes in the public schools, participated in plays in Kalamazoo Junior civic and Kalamazoo summer youth theater as well Lois did the hair and make up for the high school musicals they participated in (Lois was known as "Mama Nelson" and always found something to do with the boys hair that was too long for the time period of the play when Tom Kasdorf said "do something with that hair!"), utilizing her artistic talent making extravagant Halloween costumes for children, Lois was a Girl Scout troop leader, made sure her children went to camp, that they participated in ministry youth fellowship meetings and activities at first United Methodist Church, had piano and saxophone lessons along with participating in the parks and recreation programs in the summer. One of the activities Lois enjoyed the most doing with her family was camping in their "Shasta" trailer up north at "Benzie" State Park (which is now Platt River Campground). Lois did a caricature painting on the back of the trailer of the family to include the family cat and dog. After Lois retired, she went back to work part time per the request of the CEO of Transamerica Title. Once again, she was extremely successful as a loan officer. Another gift that the Lord had blessed her with was her love of animals domestic and wild. She loved them and they loved her, yes Lois was the animal whisperer. The greatest inheritance of them all Lois left her children with was this love of animals. Lois had countless pets in her lifetime here on earth which all were treated like her children. Once Lois was fully retired, she utilized her artistic gift on the outside of her house and the inside as well. Throughout Lois's retirement she was always either putting in gardens and landscaping outside or decorating on the inside. Anyone who was remotely familiar with the neighborhood or even just drove by her house once knew of her gardens. Yes, Lois's Gardens were famous in the city of Kalamazoo. They were often copied, but never duplicated. Lois was asked to be in two different tours of the Kalamazoo Garden Society Garden tours. Of those two tours Lois won first prize in one of them. Another time someone entered Lois in the Garden Society's Garden show unbeknownst to her. She won first prize then too. Lois was quite surprised when they knocked on her door and announced she had won first prize. Another gift that Lois was blessed with is the gift of council. It was as if Lois was a magnet for those seeking counseling. All who met Lois if they did not like her then they loved her, and Lois would give back the love tenfold. It was not uncommon when Lois was working in her front yard gardens people walking by would stop and ask questions about gardening. But the conversation would soon shift to counseling of the passerby's personal problems. At the end of the day Lois got more counseling done then gardening. But that was ok she would not have had it any other way. Lois was always all about helping others. Many, many people loved Lois. However, the one who loved her the most was her son Donnie. He loved her harder than a diamond. Now there are many that would say Lois's work here on earth is now done. However, they would be wrong. Lois's grown children continue tell small children of all the things Lois did in her lifetime even with the health problems she had. Giving these children a role model and inspiration to overcome adversities they will encounter in their lives. No, Lois 's work is not done it continues on. There will be a celebration of Lois's life in 2022. The date and location will be announced in the Kalamazoo Gazette. If you would like to help fight what diminished losses quality of life in the late years and took Lois too soon as has happened to many others please feel free to make a donation to the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research in tribute to Lois through this link https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/page.aspx?pid=1506&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlvHF-YDK8AIVIwCiAx3yeQi0EAMYAiAAEgJQffD_BwE.