Lois Carol Friedman-Jones

Lois C. Friedman-Jones, 83, of Midland, passed away peacefully at her home on November 24, 2025.
Born on August 1, 1942, in Jamaica, New York, to the late Murray and Fannie (Jacobs) Kaplan, Lois lived a life dedicated to caring for others and pursuing her passions.
She is survived by her loving husband, Ronald Jones; her children, Lillian Schiavo-Gilmour, Lisa Blatt, and Solomon Friedman; sons-in-law David Blatt and Zach Gilmour, grandchildren Daniel Blatt, Rachel Blatt, and Zoe Krichko; sister, Wendy Kaplan, sister-in-law Linda Ostolaza; and her beloved dogs Billy, Chère, Dakota, Blue, and Jak. She was preceded in death by her second husband of 43 years, Edward P. Friedman.
Lois began her career as a registered nurse after earning her credentials from the Flushing Hospital School of Nursing. She later earned her bachelor's and doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston, paving the way for an extraordinary career in mental health. She served as a professor of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and later as department chair of Psycho-Oncology at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. Throughout her career, Lois mentored countless psychiatry interns and residents, conducted groundbreaking research in psycho-oncology, and published or co-authored 56 research studies. Her work was presented at national and international conferences, but her greatest fulfillment came from providing therapy and support to individuals battling cancer.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Lois had an unwavering love for dogs. For more than 30 years, she excelled in numerous dog sport disciplines, including obedience, utility, sheep herding, scent trials, field trials, barn hunt, and her favorite-agility. She not only loved competing and earning titles but also shared her expertise by teaching obedience and mentoring fellow dog enthusiasts. Her dedication to training reflected her lifelong passion for learning and helping others succeed.
Lois loved traveling, whether it be at the lake house in Leelanau, Paris, Israel, or visiting family in Washington DC or Oregon, she loved exploring off-beat restaurants, going to art museum, shopping at boutiques and local art galleries. She also loved cooking and knitting dog sweaters, and spending time with family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on December 3, 2025, at Smith-Miner Funeral Home with Pastor Leonard Clevenger officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Lois will be laid to rest at Westwood Cemetery in Oberlin, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Lois are asked to consider a donation to the Humane Society of Midland County (https://hsomc.networkforgood.com).
Smith-Miner Funeral Home is honored to serve the Friedman-Jones family; to share a memory, please visit www.smithminer.com.