Lois Caulk Keenan passed away Dec. 30, 2017, at the age of 91 at the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
She was born June 29, 1926, to Harold Garland Caulk and Bessie McCrary in Chromo, Colo. She was welcomed by an older sister, Wyona. The family moved to Arboles, Colo., in the fall of 1926 and lived there for three years. In 1928, her sister Wyona died, a loneliness she felt for the rest of her life. In 1929, her dad bought a ranch in Chromo. They moved there and made this the family home until Garland’s death in 1975.
Lois attended first through eighth grade in a one-room schoolhouse in Chromo. She traveled to and from school on her trusty horse, Old Dan. When it came time to go to high school, she boarded with people in Pagosa Springs: the Lloyd Anderson family, the Hatcher family and her aunt Ada Davis. She made friends with Thelma Keenan and moved in with her family to finish high school. It was at the Keenan family home where she met her future husband, Victor. Lois graduated from Pagosa Springs High School on May 26, 1945.
Victor and Lois were married on June 15, 1945, at her parents’ home in Chromo. Their first home was in Rifle, Colo. They didn’t stay for long and moved back to the ranch in Chromo. In the spring of 1946, Victor went to work for the Fish and Wildlife Service trapping coyotes and bobcats. That winter, they lived in a little cabin about 9 feet by 12 feet south of Ignacio, Colo., at La Boca.
In the spring, they moved to Bayfield and rented a cabin with two rooms. John arrived Aug. 17, 1947, at Mercy Hospital in Durango, Colo. That summer, they bought one acre of land at Gem Village to build a house, but sold it and moved back to Chromo to farm. Hazel was born Sept. 9, 1949, at Mercy Hospital in Durango.
While living at the ranch, Victor and Lois’ dad, Garland, bought a sawmill. They cut trees from the ranch to make lumber to build homes for her parents and themselves. Victor drew the plans for the houses and for all the buildings at the ranch.
After six years, they left and Victor went back to work for the Fish and Wildlife Service. They moved to Trinidad, then to Craig, Colo. They lived there for four and one-half years. Mary Louise was born in Craig on Nov. 25, 1956. Victor took a civil service test and was able to get a promotion to a district supervisor. They moved to Denver for two years; then to Monte Vista for 18 years; Vernal, Utah, for two years; and then back to Monte Vista for two years.
After Victor retired in 1980, they moved back to the ranch in Chromo. Lois stayed at the ranch until Victor’s death in 1993. In 1994, she moved to Olathe, Colo., to be by Mary. In 2006, she moved to Shelley, Idaho, to be near Hazel and her family. She was able to live in her home with help from her granddaughter, Michelle, and others until five months before she died.
Lois worked for many years at J.C. Penney. She was a wonderful homemaker and loved to cook, sew, garden and care for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family never wanted for anything. Lois was active in her church wherever she lived. She was a devout Christian. Jesus was the focus of her faith in all situations of her life. Her latest church home was the Shelley Methodist Community Church in Shelley, Idaho.
Lois is preceded in death by her parents, H.G and Bessie Caulk; her husband, Victor; and her sister, Wyona. She is survived by her children, John and Gloria Keenan (Farmington, N.M.), Hazel and George Meshrow (Idaho Falls, Idaho), and Mary and Bryan Gomez (Gresham, Ore.); her sister-cousin, Kay Randall (Dallas, Texas); grandchildren Michelle and Brett Waters, Katie Bradley, Kelli Keenan, Amber and Matt Roberts, Megan and Andrew Lieberenz, and Randel Gomez; great-grandchildren Brady, Bryce and Carson Waters, Eli, Tyler, and Devon Roberts, Jade and Ava Lieberenz, Lucas and Lily Ambrogi, and Bailee Neal.
Lois had many friends and extended family members. She will be missed by all, but we can rest in the assurance that she is finally home with her Lord Jesus. Services will be Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Shelley Methodist Community Church in Shelley, Idaho. Interment will be at the Hilltop Cemetery in Pagosa Springs, in the spring.
