Lois H. Estes Paulson, 109, of Monmouth, IL, passed away at 8:30 pm, Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at the Hammond Henry Long-Term Living Center, Geneseo, IL.
Lois Wallace was born September 19, 1914 in Fairfield, IA, the daughter of William Earl and Orpha Drucilla (Gurwell) Wallace. Her mother died when Lois was 3. She and her sister Ruth moved to Smithshire, IL to live with their Aunt Bertha Mae and Uncle Edwin Watson. She attended a one room school house called Nichols a few miles from her home and walked to school every day. She graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1933.
Lois married Ernest Estes on January 1, 1936 in Ponemah, IL and they farmed in rural Warren County, close to her aunt and uncle. Lois and Ernest had two daughters, Patricia Lea and Elizabeth “Betty” Mae. She and Ernest eventually moved to Monmouth and bought a home in 1962. Ernest passed away in July 1979. She later married Russell Paulson and he passed away in 1992.
Lois worked as a nurse’s aide at the old Monmouth Hospital for 4 years, then went on to work for Drs. Chamberlin and Ambrose for 30 years before retiring, though she still filled in as needed for several years after that. In 1984, Lois began volunteering for the Monmouth Hospital Auxiliary and continued with it past age 100. She volunteered at least 6000 hours and received several pins honoring those accomplishments. She also volunteered at the Strom Center in Monmouth for several years. She successfully continued to renew her driver’s license through age 105 before deciding it was time to hang up her keys. She first learned to drive on the farm where she grew up, taking area kids to the schoolhouse in her early teens before needing a license to do so.
Lois also enjoyed volunteering at Heritage Bible Church, going to services every Sunday, spending time with her quilting group on Wednesdays, and making beautiful counted cross stitch gifts for family and friends. She had a wonderful sense of humor, a beautiful heart and was honest to a fault, which made her even more endearing. Her daughter and grandchildren were the light of her life.
Survivors include her daughter, Elizabeth “Betty” Goff of Cambridge, IL; grandson, Lee (Shanna Bradbury) LeGrand of Noblesville, IN; granddaughter, Lisa (Jeff) Seehafer of Wausau, WI; honorary granddaughter, Angie (Shane) Hoskins of Martinsville, IN; great grandchildren, Jordon (Peyton Parson) LeGrand, Sydney LeGrand, and Ashely (John) Nightlinger; great-great granddaughter, Katherine Nightlinger; nephew, Roger (Pam) Hines of Smithshire; nieces Linda Henderson of Toulon, IL and Marilyn (Howard) Wagoner of Cario, NE; nephew, Hugh Spyres of Tulsa, OK; honorary daughter-in-law, Karen LeGrand of Bettendorf, IA.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, her daughter, Patricia LeGrand; grandson, Mark Goff and sons-in-law, Carl Goff and Curt LeGrand, her sister, Ruth Hines; one niece, Joanne Spyres.
Funeral services will be 11:00 am, Monday, November 13, 2023 at McGuire & Davies Funeral Home and Crematory, Monmouth, IL, Interment will be at Warren County Memorial Park, Monmouth. Visitation will be Monday morning from 10:00 – 11:00 am at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Heritage Bible Church and sent to the funeral home at 1007 N. G St. Monmouth, IL 61462.
