Obituary: Lois J. Chism

Lois J. Chism
May 25, 1937~Dec. 5, 2008
Longtime Rangely resident Lois J. Chism, 71, died Dec. 5, 2008, at the Rangely District Hospital.
Lois Jean Jacobs was born May 25, 1937, in Tillamook, Ore., one of 16 children born to Herman B. and Dorothy E. (Chance) Jacobs. She was raised in the Tillamook area graduating from high school in Cloverdale.
In 1964 the family left Tillamook moving to Rangely where Lois worked as a waitress at Eddy’s Hotel and Cafe. In 1966 she and her husband owned the Rangely Laundry and operated it for many years.
After some traveling Lois came back and went to work for Bigger Burger, buying the drive-it in 1984, changing the name to Chism’s Drive-In. The Chism family operated the drive-in until 1997 when they sold and Lois worked briefly for Max’s Pizza and Pinyon Seed Bakery until officially retiring to enjoy her time being with her family.
A devout Catholic, Lois was a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church as well the V.F.W. Auxiliary and was a former member of the “Over The Hill Gang” snowmobile club and a CB Radio Club.
Lois was a voracious reader, enjoying local history especially. She loved to crochet and do various hand crafts. Many members of Lois’s family and her friends received her creations through the years.
Lois enjoyed and was a lucky gambler, whether it was playing the lottery, playing bingo or traveling to a casino. After selling her home she moved into the White River Village where she will long be remembered for her laughter and singing along on
bus trips and volunteering to “work the desk” for meals.
Survivors include four children, Roni Branham of Loveland, Colorado; Michael Chism and his wife Barbi of Rangely, Tavanne Rae Burch and her husband Bob of Craig, Denise Lovins of Rangely, five step-children, Lloyd Chism and his wife Suzy of Wyoming, Vernon Chism and his wife Mary of Georgia, Donna Chism of Nevada, Beth Brown and her husband Lonnie of Nevada, five grandchildren, Levi Burch and his wife Tammi, B.J. Burch, Michael Chism and his wife Brandi, Mandi Smuts and her husband Dylan, Megan Chism, seven great-grandchildren, Kelton Burch, Dillon Burch, Shane Balleck, Rylan Vallejos, Kobey Chism, Miley Chism and Dylan Smuts. She is also survived by her siblings Jim Jacobs, Carol Jacobs, Don Jacobs, Phil Jacobs, Elaine Jacobs, Ray Jacobs, Vic Jacobs, Therese White, Myra Fisher, Ruth Bohle, Steve Jacobs and Barb Heller as well as 35 nieces and nephews.
Lois is preceded in death by her son, Gerald Wayne Chism, two brothers, Bernie and Gerald, one sister, Madelon Lindsay as well as her parents.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday, Dec. 9 at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Cochran’s Rangely Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangements.