Lois Virginia McClendon, or "Nina" as she was called by most,of Springfield, MO passed away on May 20, 2021. She was 92-years-young. And she was smiling.

Lois was born August 31, 1928, in Ava, MO (a place she fondly referred to as "Booger County") to Chester (C.W.) Parker and his wife Kathleen. She attended high school at Ava High, and met her "hunky" husband, Wilson McClendon, shortly after.

Lois and Wilson were married over 50 years and lived in the Ozarks until moving to Texas where they raised their three children, Mark, Kirk and Paige. They then moved back to Missouri with their youngest, finally settling back here in Springfield.

It was here that they stayed while Wilson worked in personnel at Kraft, and Lois began spending her days caring for and entertaining the patients at Dio Dailey's dentist office.  After retiring, she spent time with her grandkids building forts from card tables and teaching them Gin rummy, golfing and fishing like crazy, and wearing swimsuits made of wool while refusing to swim.

When her husband died unexpectedly in 1999, Lois began to spend a lot of her time volunteering. She served meals, jokes, and smiles with her daughter and son-in-law, Jim, to veterans and homeless people in her community.  She also donated countless hours gathering supplies and clothing to donate to the less fortunate.

In the summertime, she loved attending Jim and Paige's music festival "Stomp the Blues Out of Homelessness" with her boyfriend, Don, to raise money and awareness for at risk youth. Lois also enjoyed winning her weekly 50 cents while playing Bridge with all of her dear friends in town.

She will be remembered for her tasteless and undeniably hilarious jokes, wearing men's underwear in the winter to stay warm, teaching her grandkids to stop and help turtles cross the road, never forgetting her great grandchildren's favorite candy, and for her smile - that constant beautiful smile.

Lois was the matriarch of a large, beautifully blended and lively family. She is survived by her companion, Donald Webb and his loving family. Her brother, John Parker and his wife, Marilyn, who she lovingly referred to as "Chig". Her children, Mark and Kirk McClendon, and Paige Payne and her husband, Jim. Her grandchildren, Dawn (Matt) Fratangelo, Cara Thulin, Abbey (Ernie) Valdez, Chelsey (Rex) Wiedebusch, Charles McClendon, Jonathan McClendon, Nathanial Payne. Her honorary grandsons, Chance and Christopher Thulin, and their father, David. Her nephews, Jeff (Martina) Parker and Scott Parker, and nieces, Sara (Scott) Pauley and Susan Parker Miller.

Lois had nine (YES, nine) great grandchildren, Zeke and Cameron Gibson, Lily and Ryan Fratangelo, Faron, Parker and Garrett Wiedebusch, and Eva and Wilson Valdez, who loved her dearly and who she spoiled beyond measure with endless loaves of banana bread and kisses that left lipstick on their cheeks for hours. Lois is also going to be survived by more friends than her family can list, and more stories, jokes, lipsticks, and purses than we will ever be able to account for.

She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Eddie "Fast Eddie" Parker; her beloved daughter-in-law Charlotte McClendon; and her husband Wilson McClendon, who has undoubtedly had butterflies in his stomach waiting for her to come home.

Visitation is pending. Online condolences can be made at gormanscharpf.com.