In Loving Memory of My Grandma

This video is a tribute to the incredible woman who shaped so much of who I am. It’s a collection of photos, memories, and moments that reflect her warmth, strength, and unwavering love. Whether you knew her as a mother, grandmother, sister, or friend, I hope this video brings a smile to your face and reminds you of the joy she brought into our lives.

She may be gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.

A Poem John wrote to Lois

I got to know Lois & John at Vineyard first then as neighbors second.  They were the oldest people we knew at Vineyard back in the 90’s!  I’ll never forget being newly married and coming to their class on sex.  It was GREAT.  I so appreciated their openness and candor.  It was refreshing and helpful at just the right time.  Then after adopting our son and moving into the neighborhood Lois was the first one to validate what I was observing about my son’s learning differences.  It gave me the confidence I needed to advocate for him the rest of my life.  She gave me her book on boundaries that I’m still trying to implement in my life to this day.  Lois prayed for me at a Holy Spirit conference and spoke directly at my infertility and fear of having a daughter.  I had been unable to conceive for 10 years at this point.  Weeks after her praying for me I became pregnant with our daughter.  That prayer has reminded me not to fear but embrace God’s gift of Grace in my life.  I will treasure these memories and God’s love brought to me through Lois.  

My very first memory was sleeping overnight  in my Aunt Jean's bedroom and her rubbing noses with me. My very first rubbing noses. She and Uncle John taught me about New York pizza and Caesar salad. Gave me my first wooden salad bowl. I got to be a flower girl in their wedding. My mother made her wedding dress. They were there for my first wedding -- and my second. They were there for my son's wedding and my daughter's. My Aunt Jean always picked out the coolest Christmas presents for me. I adored her and thought her the most beautiful woman I had ever known. I dreamed of growing up to be even a little bit as pretty as she was. She was always full of joy. She fostered my love of art and my original vocation as as art teacher. She was a peach.

John and Lois's home was open to me after I finished HS in Madrid and came to Columbus to attend Capital University in 1987. Having a home during breaks and holidays was such a blessing. It was not just a place to stay, it was a home. And it was not just a bedroom, but a basement for storage of all my wordly possessions, a living room to play the piano and a kitchen to bake brownies. I remember she told me the secret of rich, chewy brownies...don't overmix! And I always think of that when I bake brownies. Her quiet presence and gentle smile was a constant throughout that time. 

I lived with Lois and John for a few months before I graduated from High School. I was new to living in the USA and trying to find my way in life as a senior. U.S. High School is a complex world, even if you've grown up in the States. For me, it was a challenging and jarring experience.  During that topsy-turvy time, Lois was a rock for me. I don't know how I would have survived without her loving and consistent presence. One way in which she demonstrated her care for me was by her steadfast thoughtfulness and care.  In the naive way a teenager can assume that it's okay to borrow someone's things without asking, I found barrettes in a drawer in the downstairs bathroom of their home. Before I'd leave for school, I would put them in my hair, using them without asking. I often lost track of them but didn't think much about it. Lois did, however. For the four to five months I lived with her and John as I finished High School, Lois continually placed a new supply of barrettes in that drawer without mentioning anything to me. This was one small kindness among a myriad of others. It was that sort of loving kindness that Lois always offered to everyone in small and huge ways. I was lucky enough to know and live with Lois and John. I will always be grateful to have known her and the entire Myer family.

I first came to really know and respect Lois when she and John opened their home to me after graduating from high school in Madrid, Spain. Lois was so kind and patient and I always knew she would be there for me in any circumstance.  I remember finding a basket filled with goodies on an Easter morning. What a surprise! She took me to Capital for a tour of the college and was instrumental in the process of applying to the music department. What a precious lady she was! Thank you, Lois for being such an amazing support to me during such a crucial time in my life. And thank you to the Myer family for sharing her with me! Love, Liz