Ellis County Obituary
Gage Cemetery

aka Little Wolf Creek IOOF

© SHAW REDINGER FUNERAL HOME
VICI, DEWEY CO, OK
(permission granted)
Submitted by: Ann Weber

LOIS VIRGINIA HARRELL

December 08, 1919 - March 26, 2017

Lois Virginia (Beard) Harrell was born December 8, 1919 to Julius Anson Beard and Laurell Essie (Julian) Beard. She had an older sister, Bernice and a younger brother, Buford. She departed this life March 26, 2017 at the Shattuck Nursing Center after suffering a stroke.

Lois grew up on a farm nine miles east of Alva, Oklahoma in the Ashley community. She walked to the Short Springs country school where she received her first thru eighth grade education. She graduated from high school and college at Alva, Oklahoma. Upon college graduation, she became a school teacher at the country schools of Riverside School, two miles north of Cherokee, Oklahoma and Elmdale School, six miles east of Alva, Oklahoma. When WWII broke out many country schools closed. She then got a job as a typing and filing clerk at Douglas Aircraft Co. in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma during the war. Just as the war was ending and her job was no longer needed, she received a phone call from the Gage School superintendent offering her a teaching job. Two of Lois’s college girlfriends were teachers at Gage and knew she needed a job. Lois accepted the offer and came to Gage on the passenger train. The superintendent and her two friends met her at the train station and welcomed her to Gage. Lois taught the Gage fifth grade from 1945-47, the Arnett fifth grade one year 1957-58, then returned to the Gage school teaching vocal music from 1966-68.

Gage is where she met Leslie Truax Harrell, a returned WWII veteran. They both attended the Methodist church, where Leslie sang in the choir and Lois played the piano. They married August 7, 1946. They eventually made their home on a farm they purchased three miles south of Gage. To this union was born three children, Kenneth Eugene, Anita Faye and Kay Yvonne.

Lois’s life centered around church and music. She was a Sunday school teacher from her teen years through her adult life. She taught several home Bible studies. She was the church pianist for many years and also gave piano lessons. Lois and Leslie provided music for many weddings and funerals.

Lois was a hard-working farm wife. She raised chickens and a garden and canned the produce. She was an excellent seamstress as well. She was a member of the Home Extension Club. Lois and Leslie moved back to Alva in June of 1968 and resided there until 1985 when they returned to Gage. Lois became a member of the Gage Ladies Research Club. Lois was a faithful church member of the Believer’s Chapel.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, her beloved spouse, Leslie and her daughter-in-law, Angela Harrell. She is survived by her son Kenneth Harrell of Lubbock, Texas, daughter Anita Harrell of Gage and daughter and son-in-law Kay and Curtis Torrance of Gage. She had six grandchildren, Matthew and wife Dalila Harrell, Shannon Harrell, Lynnlee Harrell, Nathan Torrance and wife, Jamie, Mark Torrance and wife, Katy, Loretta (Torrance) Spitzer and husband, Dr. Brian. She was blessed with ten great grandchildren, Makinzie, Ethan, Trey, Cale and Daxton Torrance; Hannah, David, Haley, Samantha Spitzer and Temperince Torrance.

Funeral Service
Thursday, March 30, 2017
11:00 AM
Believer's Chapel
505 N. Main
Gage, OK 73843
Interment following the service Gage Memorial Cemetery.