Lois Alma was welcomed into the world by parents Norman and Pearl (Field) Coulter on April 14, 1934 in Nottawasaga township. Lois was the youngest, and only girl in the family, joining older brothers Harry, Merland, Bert, and Douglas. The Coulter family lived on a mixed farm and during the war she helped her oldest brother, Harry on the farm. Lois learned how to drive a tractor, although one day as she was making a turn, she took it too short, and damaged the binder. She attended high school at Creemore High School. Lois had dreams of becoming a nurse. However once she graduated from Grade 12, she was too young to become a nurse, so she went on to attend Normal School in Toronto for a two month teacher’s course. That September, she began teaching in a one room schoolhouse grades 1 through 8 in Upper Honeywood. In the next few years, some of her students included her nieces and nephews.
While attending a dance with friends in Honeywood, Lois met a young strapping man by the name of Warren “Arnold” Weatherall. Lois and Arnold quickly hit it off, and their love story began. Arnold would sail the great lakes in the summer months and when he would dock in Goderich, Lois and her friend, who was also dating someone on the boat, would make the trip to spend time with them before the guys headed off on their next voyage. Lois and Arnold were married on December 29, 1953 in a family member’s home. As a newlywed couple, they lived outside of Honeywood on a mixed farm. In 1956, they welcomed their first child Catherine, followed by Linda in 1958, Janet in 1960, who died within a month of being born, and Carlene in 1961. In 1962, Lois and Arnold, along with Arnold’s brother Lloyd, were looking for a better farming opportunity. After looking at a few different locations, Lois and Arnold settled on the 7th of Elderslie on a dairy farm with Holstein cows. Keep in mind, they made this move with three young daughters, hard to imagine! At their new home, they completed their family with the arrivals of Douglas in 1964 and David in 1965. They put additions on the dairy barn, and Lois was very busy helping in the house and in the barn.
In 1975, Arnold passed away suddenly. Lois sold the farm. With Cathie off to university and the other four children still at home, Lois built a new house in Chesley, and moved into the home where she remained the rest of her life. Lois was very busy as a sports mom of five, driving the kids to hockey and baseball. If the kids were playing, she was there. Doug recalls that when she arrived at the arena, she would pop the trunk and say that she had room for two more boys.
When Carlene was leaving for University, Betty Buchanan asked Lois for a recommendation for her replacement. Lois said “Why can’t I do that?” This started her next adventure working at Bob’s Bakery, Chesley. So Lois began working there in the back, helping Bob. She enjoyed learning new skills from Bob, although even after working in a bakery, she still would never master pastry! She worked in the bakery until 1985, when her children were starting to leave the house, or at least old enough to take care of themselves after school. Lois began supply teaching for Elderslie Public and Chesley Public. No challenge that presented itself to Lois was too hard for her to overcome. When computers were introduced into schools, at first, she didn’t think she would have to teach that. However, one day, she took her students to the computer lab, and relied on one of the students to be the teacher’s assistant. With the student’s help, she took it on with grace and determination to figure it out.
Lois was so proud of all five of her kids completing their post secondary education, as education was an important aspect in Lois’ life. Not only did she love to teach, but she also enjoyed learning. In her spare time, Lois kept the love for teaching going as a leader for the 4-H Association, teaching homemaking skills such as gardening, baking, and cooking. Lois was an active longtime member of the Chesley Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday School. She was also a member of the Gillies Hill Women’s Institute. Lois was a member of the Eastern Star, and worked as a convenor at fundraising banquets to build the Chesley Arena/Curling Club.
Lois enjoyed travelling, with every trip she took being special in its own way. She travelled all over Canada. The only trip as a couple that the kids can remember them taking was to Nebraska. She then had the opportunity to repeat this adventure with Linda and Jay. She was an avid Toronto Blue Jays fan, even travelling to Chicago to watch a game.
Lois was an excellent cook and baker, and she was well known for her brownies! She loved trying new recipes, always willing to learn something different, and they always turned out well. Although David might have had a different opinion. When hosting a big crowd, she always preferred making a roast beef or turkey dinner as it was easier than a casserole. No matter what, there was ALWAYS dessert! Lois enjoyed knitting, bridge and curling, and every Friday night, she and her son David would curl together in the couples’ league. She enjoyed listening to Kenny G, Rita MacNeil, and Charlie Pride. Lois had the chance to see Kenny G in concert, which was a highlight for her. She enjoyed watching the Jays and other sports on TV, and always had the news channel looped. Lois was an avid reader, with mystery books being her choice.
To Lois, family was the most important thing in her life. No matter what, as long as the family was together, she was happy. She proudly welcomed new members into the family. Barb and Shannon were her daughters, Jay her son and Brandon and Bryce became her grandsons. When her grandkids were born, everything revolved around them. She made sure to spend as much time with all four of them as she could. She always put in an effort to be at Jordan’s sporting events, and Rachel’s singing recitals. With Rebecca and Meghan living a few doors down from her, the two girls would often stop in at Grandma’s after school, resulting in David and his wife Shannon calling looking for the girls. Lois passed her love for baking on to the grandkids, often baking cookies together. On her fridge, Lois had a list for “Grandma’s Restaurant”. This had a list of items that the grandkids could pick from, and if they didn’t like what the rest of the family was having for supper, Lois would make them their own special plate.
Lois was lucky to be at her home until December of 2022, when she moved into Parkview Manor in Chesley. After a long, well-lived life, Lois passed away at Parkview Manor, on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, in her 90th year. Predeceased by her husband Arnold, daughter Janet, and son David. Loving mother of Cathie, Linda and her husband Jay, Carlene, Doug and his wife Barb, and daughter-in-law Shannon. Proud grandmother of Jordan, Rebecca and her fiancé Brandon, Rachel and her fiancé Bryce, and Meghan.
A memorial service will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home, Chesley, on Monday, September 4, 2023, at 1 p.m. Private inurnment in Chesley Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Chesley Hospital Foundation or to the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
