Lois Black was born April 1, 1936 to Edgar Leroy Pickler and Lois Margaret McDowall at her Grand Uncle Greer and Grand Aunt Mae Robbins' home in Carson/Halfway, Oregon. She was the granddaughter of Claude Leroy Pickler and Elsie Elizabeth Robbins who were long time residents of Carson/Halfway. She spent her first years in Cornucopia, Oregon where her father worked at the Cornucopia Gold Mine. In July 1941, Lois' brother, Richard Lynn Pickler was born in Cornucopia. In December 1941 when the Cornucopia Mine closed, the family moved to Cottage Grove, Oregon where her father worked in the logging industry. They moved to Linton, Oregon where Lois' mother was trained and worked as a welder in the Portland Ship Yards on the Victory Ships until the end of WWII. Lois's father started a Service Station for Richfield Oil and Gas Company. Lois attended school in Portland, Oregon; first at St Patrick Catholic Grade School, 1st through 5th grade; then Chapman Grade School, 5th through 8th grade; and Girls Poly, 9th through 12th grade, graduating in the spring of 1954. By that time Lois had gained two sisters, Babe in 1945 and Patricia in 1947. Lois adored her brother and two sisters and was always protective of them. On April 6, 1954, Lois married Gordon Allen Brown in Vancouver, Washington. At the time, Gordon was Sea Scout in Portland and decided to join the Coast Guard. In 1954, he went to Coast Guard Boot Camp for six weeks. While he was away, Lois prepared for their first child to be born. A son, Johnny Leroy was born on February 20, 1955 in Portland. Another son, Kim Allen was born March 19, 1956 and on May 10, 1957, a daughter, Christal Lynn was born in Astoria where the family lived. While Gordon was in the Coast Guard, the family moved to different areas of the West Coast spending time in Astoria and Portland, Oregon; La Push, Washington; Treasure Island, California. In 1968, Lois with her three children moved to Baker City, Oregon to live close to her family while Gordon went to Vietnam for eleven months. When Gordon return from Vietnam, he commuted from California and Oregon to see his family. In 1970, Lois moved to Treasure Island Naval Station and then, went to Fort Bragg Coast Guard Station at Fort Bragg, California to be with her husband Gordon. Later she lived at the Point Cabrillo Light Station while Gordon was stationed at San Francisco, California. In July 1974, Gordon filed for divorce from Lois in San Franciso after 20 years of marriage. Both, John and Kim joined the Coast Guard shortly after they graduated from High School. Lois and Christal returned to Baker City for a short time and then to Caldwell, Idaho where Lois began working at Simplot. On January 7, 1979, Lois and Kenneth G. Black married in Reno, Nevada after meeting through their friends at the Eagles Lodge. They resided in Caldwell until Kenneth's death May 2014. Lois worked at various jobs in the Caldwell area during this time including the University of Idaho, and Canyon County Dispatch. In 1990, Lois began working at Hewett Packard in Boise, Idaho. Her last position was a leader on the HP Printer Pin line while also serving as a Safety Volunteer. She retired in the spring of 2007. Lois is survived by her two sons and their wives, Kim and Brenda Brown, Kent, Washington; John and Roxanne Brown, Wasilla, Alaska; her daughter, Christal and her husband, Thomas Dorsey, Springfield, Oregon; eight grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters and their spouses, Babe J. and Cecil R. Fain, Susanville, California and Patricia A. and Larry L. Byron, Nampa, Idaho and numerous nieces, and nephew. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth G. Black, her parents, and her brother Richard L Pickler. A private family service will be held to honor her life.
Tami Pine Valley Funeral Home and cremation services