At Wellington House Nursing Home on Monday, March 3, 2014, Lois Sheila (Prosser) Merkley passed away with her daughter by her side. She was 77.
Lois was born October 6, 1936, to Gilbert and Mae Prosser in Cardinal. She was the sixth child out of eight brothers and sisters. She attended public and high school in Cardinal.
At 16 years of age, Lois started her working career at Caldwell Linen Mill sewing towels in the Sewing Room. There love blossomed between her and Gerald and on October 6th, 1956, on her 20th birthday, they were married in the Morrisburg United Manse. She then became a dear sister-in-law to Dorothy Reddick.
They started out their married life living beside Gerald’s parents, then, in 1958, they moved their little house to Stampville Road north of Iroquois and over the years added to the size of it to become the house that Gerald still lives in today.
There they enjoyed many years living beside the Hodgson’s, Carkner’s, Gillard’s, Sypes’s and Perkins.
Lois became “Aunt Lois” to many neighbourhood kids with one of the Hodgson daughters being named after her.
In August of 1964, a special little boy was born to occupy Lois and Gerald’s time, her nephew Mark Prosser.
Lois’s career at Caldwell came to an end in May of 1970, for a very special reason. After 13 years of marriage, Gerald and Lois welcomed their daughter Laurie to their family.
Lois then started her career of babysitting. One of those kids was a very special little girl, Tricia (Gillard) Bilmer who she baby sat from infancy to the time Tricia went to school.
When Laurie was older, Lois returned to Caldwell for what was supposed to be only part time work, but ended up lasting approximately 10 years before she retired for good.
Lois was a talented seamstress. She loved watching television, reading newspapers and magazines, and her Sunday drives with Gerald. Every Saturday night you could find Lois and Gerald at the Iroquois Legion listening to Reg Reid.
In December of 1987, Lois and Gerald made their dream come true of travelling to Florida with Lois’s brother Marvin, sister-in-law Myrna and nephew Scott to visit Lois’s sisters Jean and Verla.
In September of 1996, Laurie and Pierre were married. Lois then became a step-grandmother to Stephane. She was also “grandma” to Laurie and Pierre’s cat “Tabatha” then “Abbey”.
In May of 2011, because of failing health, Lois moved to Wellington House Nursing Home in Prescott where she made many friends.
There she enjoyed regular bus trips to Walmart. Her shopping list was always for earrings and nail polish. Lois started playing bingo and horseshoes (similar to Snakes & Ladders). Everyone was dear or sweetie and she kept everyone laughing with her comical personality.
Lois is survived by her husband Gerald, her daughter Laurie (Pierre) Ouimet and step-grandson Stephane (Brittany).
She will be lovingly remembered by her brothers Stanley (Myrtle) Prosser of Brockville and Marvin (Myrna) Prosser of Cardinal and by her Sister Jean Salepakos of West Palm Beach, FL.
She will be sadly missed by her sister-in-law Dorothy Reddick and by her nieces and nephews.
Lois was predeceased by her brothers, Dwayne, Gerald and Dale and her sister Verla.
Family and Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Iroquois, on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service was held at the funeral home on Friday, March 7th at 10 a.m. with Rev. Janet Evans officiating.
Spring Internment will be at Dundela Cemetery.
Donations to Wellington House Activity Fund or Charity of Your Choice would be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com.
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