Lois Reynolds

Lois Reynolds was a strong, caring woman who loved playing cards, dancing and knitting. Above all, though, she loved her family and friends. Underneath her charming, yet feisty personality was a reservoir of strength, which those around her came to depend on. Always thinking of others before herself, Lois was both blessed by and a blessing to those she loved. The Roaring Twenties was a fantastic period in our nations history, when the sounds of progress could be heard in every city and village across the U.S. It was the birthplace of Jazz, the golden age of industry and above all, the time of plenty. For Henry and Elda (Smith) Walsworth of Muskegon, Michigan, it was also a time of great blessing for their family. Already the proud parents of daughter Bernadine, on March 16, 1926, they were overjoyed to welcome the birth of their second daughter, Lois. The girls were later joined by their brother, Raymond, who completed the Walsworth household. Lois enjoyed a typical childhood growing up in a big house on Oak Street that had grapevines in the backyard. While her mother stayed home to care for the children, her father earned a living as a machinist at Continental Motors. They lived so close to his work that he walked there every day. Like most kids, Lois got into her fair share of mischief as a kid, which included throwing tomatoes at passing trains on the Wood Street bridge. One day, she came home full of soot, perhaps because the conductor saw an opportunity to even the score with their tomato hurling, and sent a blast of exhaust her way. As a teenager, Lois and her girlfriends used to sneak on nylons after they left the house, though her parents prohibited it. Lois received her education in the Muskegon Public Schools and graduated from Muskegon High in 1944. In addition to school, she rode her bike every day to her job at a button factory to earn some extra money. In 1947, a wonderful thing happened to Lois she met the love of her life, Melvin Reynolds, while out cruising on Western Avenue. Melvin noticed Lois right away and wasted no time in asking her out on a date. As fate would have it, the two fell hopelessly in love after only a few months together, and they were happily married on April 5, 1947. The newlyweds settled into married life together in a small house on Marquette Street, and it wasnt long before they were blessed with three beautiful children: Larry, Debbie and Scott. Melvin provided for his growing family as the second-generation owner of Muskegon Truckers. The family eventually moved to a house by the business, which had a huge sand pile right next to it. Over time, though, the pile moved farther and farther from the house, perhaps because of Lois insistence. It wasnt long before Lois found her place in the family business, answering phones, taking orders, and making meals for the workers. It was said she had the uncanny ability to know just when the supper had to be done so the crew could just sit down and eat. In her feisty way, she would always tell them I am not going to wait on you but did anyways. And if there was something someone wanted but not there, she made sure it was there the next day. After her children all left the nest, Lois was happy that they all stayed nearby. In fact, they were so close by that they would signal each other with their porch lights of their coming and goings. And like most mothers, Lois always grew anxious when the light wasnt on when it should have been. Lois happiest moments always involved the time she spent with her children and spoiling her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Family was always first in her heart. Outside of her family, Lois had several hobbies she enjoyed in her leisure time. She loved playing bridge with her Bridge Club and even taught others how to play too. When she and Melvin were first married, they liked to go out dancing; she was always the life of a party. One of Lois favorite places to visit was the Little River Casino, where she loved to try her luck at winning some big bucks. Amazingly, her chronic back pain magically disappeared when she was at the casino! In her quieter moments, Lois kept her hands busy knitting something beautiful, perhaps while watching a Lawrence Welk show, which she loved. For Lois Reynolds, her place in life was with her family, which filled her 82 years with great love and joy. She will be dearly missed. Lois M. Reynolds, age 82, died on Monday, August 25, 2008. She is survived by her husband, Melvin Reynolds; son, Scott (Amy) Reynolds; daughter, Debbie (Kenneth) Sterzer; daughter-in-law, Barbara Reynolds (Lois was preceded in death by her son, Larry, in January 2007); grandchildren: Tonya, Kim, Jennifer, Kevin, Matthew, Lynn and Zack; great grandchildren: River, Mallory, Trenton, Jett, Adalyn & 2 on the way; brother, Raymond Walsworth; and sister, Bernadine Dykema, all from Muskegon. Services for Lois will be held on Thursday, August 28, at 1:00 p.m. in Clock Chapel at Clock Life Story Funeral Home Muskegon, with Chaplain Jan Johnson officiating. Interment will be at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Relatives and friends may visit with her family on Wednesday, August 27, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or American Heart Association. Please visit Lois personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory with her family or sign her online guest book.