Lois Joanne Pryor

Lois was born in Wisner, Neb., the youngest of three daughters of Lester and Alvena Chilcott. She attended Wisner public schools, playing saxophone in the high school band and singing in the chorus and Glee Club, and graduated in 1946 at the age of 16. She had actually earned enough credits to graduate in 3 1/2 years, but the school would not let her stay home during the final semester, so she worked in the school office the last half of her senior year. She left high school with solid bookkeeping, typing, shorthand and other office skills and headed to Omaha two weeks after graduation to look for work. Even though she already had the skills, she enrolled in secretarial school to improve her job prospects and completed those studies in November 1946. Both her young age and the influx of returning soldiers made finding work difficult at first, but before long, she landed a job with Snyder Aircraft Corp. at the new Omaha airport. She worked there for a few years and then was hired without so much as an interview by another company at the airport. She greatly enjoyed both jobs, along with the income to build an impressive and stylish wardrobe.She married Paul in 1950 and continued working until they started a family soon thereafter. Throughout the next several decades, her growing family became the focus of Lois' life. Because Paul's work as a Greyhound driver often had him on the road, she had a lot to juggle as she kept the household running while being a mother to six active kids. On any given day, she managed to prepare three home-cooked meals, make sure homework was done, encourage good reading and music practice habits, can a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, drive kids to activities, keep up with the yard work and gardening, and volunteer at church and school. She once said she thought she could probably have fallen asleep standing up during some of those early years. A child of the Depression, she was amazingly thrifty and creative and an excellent seamstress. As her family grew, she took many of those stylish suits, dresses and coats from her working years and remade them into coats, hats, muffs, dresses, jumpers, pants and sport coats for her children. She always took great pride in making sure her kids looked their best, and did so on the slimmest of budgets. Despite having little time for herself, Lois cultivated several passions, including reading, knitting, quilting, and working crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Following his retirement in 1983, she and Paul visited friends in Phoenix, traveled in their camper, joined a square dance club and cared for their many grandkids, both locally and out of town. She was a member of the St. Pius X community for 64 years. Lois is survived by her children Ann Morales (Jose), Larry (Judy), Dan (Donna), Mary Kay O'Connor, Patty Pryor-Nolan, and Tom (Chris); and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by Paul, her husband of 63 years. Lois was dedicated to her family and lived a selfless life. The home she maintained was a welcoming place and she and Paul extended a helping hand to many in need throughout the years. She leaves a legacy of living simply, serving quietly. "There is love in holding and there is love in letting go." - Elizabeth Berg Celebration of Life Mass March 19, 2022, 10:30 a.m. St. Pius X Church 6905 Blondo Memorials: Nebraska Humane Society or St. Pius X Catholic Church