Lois Lightfoot

Lois Margarette Lightfoot stepped into eternity with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, early Monday morning October 1, 2012. Lois Lightfoot was mother to Gale Lightfoot, Jr., Gary Lightfoot, Gene Lightfoot, and stepmother of Nancy Lightfoot Gilligan. Lois was born to Jim Melton and Leoah Millsaps on December 10, 1929 in Gastonia N.C. Shortly thereafter, Leoah had to hitch-hike back to her childhood home in Blairsville, GA, carrying Lois and her older sister Jessie with her. Lois graduated in 1947 from Union County High School, Blairsville, Georgia. A North Georgia Beauty Queen of 1947, Lois met and married Gale Nathan Lightfoot Sr. of Wisconsin in 1953. Gale proposed on their first date, Lois accepted on their second, and they were married shortly after in Las Vegas. Together Gale and Lois Lightfoot traveled throughout the United States for several years as part of printing industry's effort to change from letterpress to the new offset process. In 1957 they settled in California, and started a lithographic business of their own. In 1963 they sold the business, and would move the family every couple years in pursuit of a place to call home. Finally, in 1970, they moved to Georgia, and started another lithographic business. Lois loved to make home a place where Gale Jr., and Gary constantly brought friends for meals and sometimes much longer stays. She enjoyed whipping up favorite foods, and creating a welcome atmosphere for anyone at the table.

Lois also had a "sick sense of humor", labeled that by Gale Sr. Unfortunately for Lois, this sense of humor was inherited by her sons. As they were growing up, Lois was the recipient of many jokes and pranks created by the boys. Usually, she was the first to laugh along, unless she was trying to catch her breath from whatever "discomfort" the prank may have had as a side effect. At home, Lois seldom sat still for long, unless a game was being played…then the snacks came out, and Lois joined the games and fed folks at the same time. She made home always ready for guests, and a place where the boys thought that dirty underwear disappeared, and clean underwear just appeared in drawers every day.

Preceded in death by her husband Gale Sr., son Gene, sister Jessie and brothers James, WB, and Bill; Lois Lightfoot is survived by her sons Gale Jr. and Gary, stepdaughter Nancy Lightfoot Gilligan, along with Gale Lightfoot Jr's wife Nancy Gail, Gale & Nancy Gail's children Erin Lightfoot Cantrell, Leigh Lightfoot, Becca Lightfoot, son-n-law Adam Cantrell, grandchildren AJ and Sazy Cantrell, Gary Lightfoot's wife Della, Gary and Della's children Amanda Lightfoot Lyons, Lauren Lightfoot Soulen, son-n-law David Soulen, son-n-law Stan Lyons, granddaughter Olivia Soulen, sister Mary Potts Housley, brother-in-law Emmett J. Housley, and sister-in-law Ann Kimsey Potts.

Lois Lightfoot's memorial will be held Thursday, October 4th at the Cochran Funeral Home, 41 Hunt-Martin St., Blairsville, GA 30512. Visitation from 12:00-2:00 and services at 2:00.