Lois Isabel Davis (nee Anderson), 91, a strong woman who took great and deserved pride in nurturing a family through quiet, hard work and steely determination, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri.

She was born in Laddonia, Missouri, October 19, 1928, to George Wilmer Anderson and Ida May Anderson (Dudgeon). She spent a number of years working as a typesetter at the Mexico (Missouri) Evening Ledger, and was employed later as a legal aide in the Mexico law office of Edwards, Seigfreid & Runge.

Lois moved to Springfield in 1993 with her husband, James Thomas Davis, who preceded her in death in 2016. They were married 69 years. She also was preceded in death by two brothers, George and James Anderson.

Lois, her high school's salutatorian who knew her way around a crossword puzzle and a Jumble, was a grammarian of the first order who did not hesitate to point out a misstep when she heard it or read it in the newspapers.

After her husband's death, Lois spent her final years at The Waterford at Ironbridge in Springfield. She and James were longtime members of Mexico United Methodist Church and later were members of Wesley United Methodist Church in Springfield.

Survivors include: daughters Deborah Davis, Nixa, and Dianne (Bennett) and husband David, St. Louis; son James Steven and wife, Emilie, Syracuse, New York; granddaughters Chalice Lafferty (husband Matt), Chicago; and Rachel Franklin (husband Bo), Cincinnati, Ohio; and great-grandchildren Sophia and Bennett Lafferty. All of them will remember her as "Mimi."

A special thanks goes to the compassionate staffs of Phoenix Home Care and The Waterford.

Lois and James loved their Boston Terrier dogs, and donations may be made to any animal shelter or to Wesley United Methodist Church (922 W. Republic Road, Springfield, MO 65807).