Lois Baker Gee

Lois Comal Baker Gee, a fourth-generation Texan, passed from this life on January 18, 2006, in Jasper Texas, at age 90. Born December 19, 1915, west of Chireno, Texas, she was the third child born to Amaziah Eugene Baker and Emma Eugenia Covington Baker. Lois attended Chireno Elementary and Junior High and graduated from Nacogdoches High School in 1934. She entered Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College and received her certificate to teach in 1936. After that she followed her brother, Charles, to California and trained at the Dorothy Durham School for Secretaries in San Francisco. In 1948, Lois received her B.A. from SFA, majoring in elementary education and minoring in music. She taught second grade and led the rhythm band in Bessmay and Kirbyville schools, before moving to Jasper in 1951. She is preceded in death by her husband, George E. Gee. Together they owned and operated George Gee Pharmacy and Lois Gee Bible Books Music in Jasper. She especially enjoyed accompanying him in his work with the Deep East Texas Regional Mental Health Mental Retardation Services. When Jasper-Newton MHMR was in its infancy, she shared her rhythm band skills with the children there as a volunteer weekly. Lois supported the Jasper community in many ways over her lifetime. As a young mother, she served in PTA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Band Boosters. Her love for music was expressed through performing with choirs such as the Women¹s Chorus in the ¹50s and Civic Chorus in the ¹80s. She was recognized in 1986 by Jasper Convalescent Center for ten years service for leading the rhythm band there, a talent she shared with other area nursing homes, as well. Lois was a charter member of the Pilot Club of Jasper and Mary E. Dickerson Memorial Hospital Auxiliary as well as a past member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Women¹s Civic Club, Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the Methodist Choir. Her most current role of service has been as song leader for the Jasper Retired Teachers¹ Association. It may be that her most lasting contribution to Jasper may have been as president of Halley¹s Comet Club. In 1986, a time capsule was buried at the Jasper Public Library which contained letters and artifacts from the community. The capsule is to be opened in 2061, when Halley¹s Comet returns. She is survived by two sons, Charles Eugene Gee and his wife, Carolyn Sue, and William Baker Gee and his wife, Sue Evelyn; and one daughter, Lois Comal Gee Lacy and her husband, Kerry; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Sarah Elizabeth Gee Smith, Laura Alice Gee McMillon, Rebecca Mae Gee Soisson, Jennifer Diane Gee Robbins, William Edwin Gee, Anthony Wayne Gee, Kevin Thomas Gee, Merry Comal Lacy Clark and John-Thomas Lacy; sixteen great-grandchildren, Matthew Porter and Ashleigh Elizabeth Smith, Charles William, John Mitchell and Henry Alan McMillon, Jacob Scott, Emily Sue and Michael Wayne Soisson, Brian Glenn Robbins and Brandon Paul Romero, Brandon William, Madison Jewel and Makenna Baker Gee, Rachel Lindsey and Sydney Morgan Gee and Greyson Thomas Gee; one brother, Dallas Olen Baker; nieces Jeanne Williamson Smith, Emily Baker Hester, Susan Baker Crawford and Kathy Baker McGough; nephews, Dan Williamson and John Olen Baker; and other family. She was preceded in death by a sister, Imogene Clarice Baker Williamson; two brothers, Charles Eugene and Thomas Lee Baker; and one nephews, Tommy Joe Baker. When asked about her religion, Mrs. Gee claimed to be "just a Jesus person." A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 21, 2006, at First United Methodist Church in Jasper. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Jasper, Texas. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to The Burke Center, 4101 S. Medford, Lufkin, Texas 75901, in memory of Lois Baker Gee for services provided on the campus of the George E. Gee Building in Jasper. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Stringer and Griffin Funeral Home in Jasper.