Lois Wrigley Obituary

Lois Maye Smith Wrigley passed away on August 13, 2025, in Buena Vista , Colorado at the home of her daughter, Debbie. She was born on May 28, 1929, in Fairbury, Nebraska to Edgar and Golda Smith.

She attended Fairbury High School where she was involved in "Who's Who of America", on the varsity cheerleading team and Prom Queen in her senior year. She graduated in 1947. On February 27, 1948, she married Frederic Wrigley of Harbine, Nebraska at the Presbyterian Church in Fairbury. This union brought forth four children: Kathleen, James, Deborah and Rebecca.

She worked as a lab tech in the Fairbury Clinic and at St. Mary's Hospital in Manhattan, Kansas while her husband attended Kansas State University.

After Fritz graduated, they moved to Fairbury, Nebraska, then Borger, Texas; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Citrus Heights, Ca.; Huntsville, Alabama; Lancaster, California. In 1975, they moved back to Idaho Falls where Lois worked as a receptionist for Dr.'s Klinger and Boyce.

She loved to travel and visited 39 countries and nearly every state in the union. She made lifelong friends easily and was always recognizable by her boisterous laugh, which was heard far and wide! She loved playing bridge with her many friends and played well into her nineties often beating her younger friends. She was also a member of P.E.O. [51 years], active in the Presbyterian Church and served as Deacon.

In July 2016, they relocated to Fairbury, Nebraska, to be near their children. In 2020, they moved into Cedarwood until 2023 when Lois moved into Gardenside. In 2025, she moved to Palmer Lake/Buena Vista, Colorado area to live with her daughters, Debbie and Becky.

She is preceded in death by her husband Fritz, her parents Edgar and Golda Smith, brother Don and his wife Alice, sister Shirley and nephews Don Jr. and Shawn.

She is survived by her four children: Kathy Coil [Rod] Fairbury, Nebraska, Jim [Ellie] Anderson Island, Washington, Debbie Mcferrin [Ron] Buena Vista, Colorado and Becky, Palmer Lake, Colorado. She had 7 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Also, her sister-in-law Marilyn Wrigley of Sioux City, South Dakota.

Lois went out the way she wanted, in her sleep, free of pain and surrounded by her family.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Post Register on Aug. 22, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Lois Wrigley

5 Entries

Cathy Lewis

August 29, 2025

My parents were Edna and Harry Calkins were long time friends with Lois and Fritz. I believe they met at church. They came to our house for dinner on occasion. I´m sorry for your loss.

Diane Morris

August 28, 2025

Heaven has welcomed a bright and beautiful spirit in Lois Wrigley. My heart goes out to her family and friends during this time of sorrow. Lois and Fritz (her late husband) were my second set of parents throughout my life starting in1974. After my mom passed in 2017, Lois reminded me that I still had her! She was absolutely right as the last of my parents had died. So wonderful that we stayed in contact all those years.

My introduction to Lois was through her daughter, Debbie, who also attended Utah State. In1975 during spring break, Debbie took a few of us down with her to Lancaster, CA where they lived. It was there I got my first introduction in eating a burrito (which I knew nothing about). Lois had bought us all burritos wrapped up in tin foil and handed them out to us for supper. Not knowing how to eat them, I started peeling off the tin foil, then the outer shell of the tortilla shell when one of my friends asked me what I thought I was doing? I replied, " isn't this how you eat this"? I could see both Lois and Fritz chuckling as I told the group I had never eaten Mexican food before (raised in PA). In 1977, I got a summer job as a forest technician with the State Department of Idaho Lands in Idaho Falls. The Wrigleys had moved to Idaho Falls and offered me a room to rent for the summer. Fritz let me ride one of his bicycles (he had a collection) for me to ride to and from work (7 miles each way) which I was appreciative (I didn't have a car). One of the things we did that summer was to go water skiing. They would take their boat to Paradise Reservoir and we would water ski. They tried many times to get me up on one waterboard (I was use to 2 water skis) but alas, I never could master that one! I really got to know Lois and Fritz that summer and felt like I was one of their daughters as they made me feel welcome. During the winter, I would go skiing with Debbie at Grand Targhee and Lois would make us hot drinks. After graduation in 1978, I drove my mom, Claire, up to meet them and say goodbye before I left for my job in Southern UT. We had a great time, along with an adventure due to our car breakdown working with two different county sheriffs in getting back to Logan.

Lois and Fritz came down for my wedding in 1981 at Shoshone Pt in Grand Canyon N.P. It meant a lot to me that they were there for my special day. Had my father not been able to make it, I was going to ask Fritz to give me away. I married my sweetheart from Utah State whom Debbie had met as well. Lois's infectious laugh and humor over the years has been what made it easier to accept and cope with many of life's curveballs. Over the years, I took my young family with 3 kids to visit them when we could on our various trips especially through Yellowstone N.P.

Lois was there for me in 2017 when both my mom and husband passed within 7 months of each other. When I learned in 2022, after my son passed unexpectedly that Fritz had passed two weeks prior, I was heartbroken. Lois and I were there for each other during that rough period. She will definitely be missed.

Beautiful lady with a big heart and infectious laugh! She lives on in the hearts, the memories, and the lives of those who were blessed to know and love her. To her family, my deepest sympathy.

Laura Starrett Wilson

August 23, 2025

My sincere condolences to all of Lois' family and her many friends during this time of grief and loss.
She was a fine lady, and my parents adored both her and Fritz. My parents also respected each of the Wrigley children. They often spoke of Lois' kids as each a great example on how to live a good life. My parents trusted Fritz, Lois and their kids in several ways that made a difference in my life.

I've been thinking a lot about this generation of Americans recently, as my father Chuck, passed last year, and he was born 1929, the same year as Lois. (My mother Barbara passed in 2020 btw.)

Lois and Fritz were kind to my parents during the Lancaster years, when my mother, Barbara, was administrative assistant to Fritz at Aerojet.
Some examples of the positive impact of Lois and her strong character had on my life include how her son, Jim, babysat for my brother (David) and I, when we were quite young. He was a good babysitter. Then later when I was older in high school I often tried to be as fun, lively, funny and popular as Becky, who everyone admired. I know I never achieved her level of sparkle, but just trying was good practice. But the big, actual, life-defining trajectory thing that pretty much determined the rest of my life, was how Lois, Fritz and their daughter Debbie agreed (invited/allowed/tolerated) me going along with Debbie to the University in Logan, Utah after I graduated high school. I would not have done that had Fritz not recommended it to my mother. I wouldn't have done that if Lois had of not agreed that it would indeed be alright for me to ride along with Debbie at the wheel of her car from California to Utah, that year, 50 (!!) years ago. Had it not of been for this dear family, shaped by Lois' community-building values, and Debbie's excellent driving and companionship, I would have never gone to Utah, not lived in those dorms, had those fun Utah friends, graduated and met my husband, moved to Oregon with him, and gone on to have a career at Intel from which to retire (9 years ago now,) allowing me time to reflect on the profound interconnection of all our lives.

Lois mattered to the world, in ways large and small, and I know in ways beyond what I've shared here from just those Lancaster years. Lois very much mattered. I remember her, Fritz and the rest of the Wrigley family, and am grateful to all.

It's good to know that Lois was among family at the end, at Debbie's home, and that she could know how loved she is/was.

May her memory be a blessing.

Nancy L. Jones

August 22, 2025

I became acquainted with Lois when she and Fritz lived here in Idaho Falls. We attended the same church. Lois defined the word "lady" and kept her home and self in an immaculate manner. I was sad when Lois moved away from Idaho Falls. She was a wonderful Christian friend.

Pat Stiles

August 22, 2025

Lois was a friend who's sincere and loving kindness was something she gave to every person I was ever with in here company. I was in tears at the funeral of the son of one of her bridge friends and she offered a touching hug, without even knowing who I was. I ran into her several times after that, and she remained consistently kind and always friendly. Even after her vision was wearing out, she shined so brightly upon recognizing me. She was and Angel on earth and will always be an Angel watching over her loved ones with eyes that are more dependable. With all my love and gratitude to her family.

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