Lois DeRaps

BENTON – Lois Mary DeRaps, of Benton, 84 passed away peacefully at
Lakewood Nursing Home in Waterville on Sept. 3, 2023, after a brief trip
down memory lane that day spoken to her by her much beloved grandson
Kevin Miller less than three hours before her passing.
Lois was born on Nov. 11, 1938, in Benton, Maine, to Albert and Ruth
Thompson. She enlisted in the Navy after graduating high school. Thereafter,
she worked various jobs over the years such as at Mardens, James Julia
Auctions in Fairfield, Unit Secretary at Thayer Hospital, banquet staff at the
former Holiday Inn in Waterville, event staff for Colby College in Waterville,
the L.L. Bean Call center in Waterville, and selling and leasing real estate
with Rodrigue Reality. She was also one of the first female trick drivers in
the country. Since 1999, she spent her final working years at Affiliated
Realty / Perkins Leasing & Management, where she sold residential real
estate and managed and rented many local properties in the Greater
Waterville area. A few years back, Lois retired from selling real estate but
she continued her property management work and finished her working
career until just three days prior to her illness forced her into the hospital and
into retirement. She always said she would go crazy being home alone and
not working so she fulfilled her goal of working until her health no longer
permitted her to work.
She enjoyed staying busy throughout life by also being involved with the
Waterville Stamp Club, the Benton Grange Hall, was a Past President of the
VFWA in Winslow, and served on the Supervisory Committee at Keyes
Fibre Credit Union now known as KSW FCU. She loved to go to postcard
and antique shows to buy and sell her collection. She enjoyed going on road
trips to various places like her Camp on Messalonskee Lake in Oakland, the
Bangor and Portland Malls and camping on Moosehead Lake with her
husband Leo. Up until the last few years she even rode her own Harley
Davison motorcycle. She also enjoyed going out to eat nearly every meal as
she always said "I can't make it any cheaper at home". Her favorite dining
establishments were Governors, The Villager, Youngs Lobster Pound, and
the Manor when it was open in Waterville. Lois was a devoted Catholic. She
attended Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours, 116 Silver St, Waterville Maine.
Lois would always say she's "a tough ol' lady" and many other classic one
liners and boy she meant it. She didn't take ANYONE'S nonsense. She also
had a low tolerance for others nonsense, and she wouldn't be afraid to tell
you that to your face or speak it out loud. You never had to guess where you
stood with her. You could be a good friend or not, and that choice was yours.
The flip side was she would often do anything for anyone including paying
for a stranger's meal, offering her grandson and his friends a safe
ride home from school or elsewhere anytime they wanted it and she would
say "all you have to do is call". At Perkins Leasing & Management, she
would go out of her way to buy many types of candy to put out at the front
counter for the mailmen, tenants coming in, and others to enjoy on a daily
basis. She also was very much valued by Gregg Perkins, the owner, as daily
she would ask him if there was anything she could do to help and ease his
work load. Additionally, Lois' "adopted" son Richard wanted all to know:
Lois -Mom- raised me and took care of me not because she was expected or
obligated to but because she cared about me and loved me and I felt that my
entire life and I truly believe that I have had a happy and wonderful life
because of the person she was.
Thank You Lois – Mom – for being the woman that you were and for being
there for me."
Lois was predeceased by her parents Albert and Ruth Thompson of Benton,
and her beloved husband Leo S. DeRaps of Benton.
Lois is survived by her brother Arthur Thompson of Benton, her son Richard
Revels and his wife Becky of North Carolina, grandchildren Christy and
Nicole. Her husband Leo's two daughters Brenda and her husband Rusty
Bates of Clinton and Jill and her husband Don Goodwin of Patterson
Louisiana, and her grandson Kevin Seth Miller of Waterville who she loved
dearly (her "munchkin") and who she was so happy to have had the chance to
work with him in property management these last couple of years.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2023 from 1-3 and 5-
7 p.m., at Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St, Fairfield, Maine.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 23,
2023, at 11 a.m., at Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours, 116 Silver St.,
Waterville Maine.