Lois C. Ayres

Lois C. Ayres, age 91, died at Memorial Hospital in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 following a courageous struggle with heart disease. She was born July 13, 1913 in Bluefield, W.Va. She graduated high school in Portsmouth, Va., then married the late John H. Ayres and gave birth to three sons, Owen, Donald and the late John Ayres Jr. Upon her husband's death, she continued to raise her boys and began working for the Virginia state government as an accountant from which she eventually retired. After many years of retirement in Richmond, she moved to Houston in 1988 to be closer to her eldest living son. A proud and independent lady, she maintained her own apartment at Treemont Assisted Living in Houston until her death. Lois is survived by her sons, Owen L. and his wife, Patricia of Houston, Donald L. and his wife, Melba of Waldorf, Md.; grandchildren, Chris and Greg of Houston, Donald Jr. and Jennifer of Elkridge, Md., Stephanie and Chris Stufft of Waldorf, Md., and Dale and Carolynn Peterson of Shreveport, La.: great-grandchildren, Sean Mendoza, Zachary and Samuel Peterson; brother, Owen C. Lewis Jr. of Chesapeake, Va.; sister, Shirley Bonenberger of Smithfield, Va.; numerous nephews and nieces. In addition to her father, mother, eldest son, and husband, Lois was preceded in death by her sister, Irene Lewis. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Morrissett Funeral Home, 6500 Iron Bridge Rd. (Rt. 10). Graveside services will be conducted by Rev. Tommy Nance at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Maury Cemetery. All friends and relatives are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wilcrest Baptist Church - Mission Fund, 10800 Sharpview Dr., Houston, Texas 77072. This was her wish to help continue the Lord's work.