Lois Stubbs Simmons' Obituary
Lois Bell Stubbs Simmons, 92, died on July 9, 2009, at her home at Mallards Landing in East China Township. She was a long-time resident of St. Clair and Venice, Florida.
Known as Candy Bell as a child, she never outgrew her taste for sweets. Lois Adeline Bell was born on November 16, 1916, the oldest daughter of Chester and Bessie (Kleihower) Bell of Marine City. Early trips with her father, who sailed the Great Lakes, initiated a lifetime love of travel.
Lois Stubbs Simmons was the last surviving member of Marine City High School’s class of 1934. She attended business school in Detroit and in the late 1930’s worked for the Diamond Crystal Salt Company helping to setup its workers’ participation in then-new Social Security program.
She married her high-school sweetheart, John E. Stubbs, in 1937 and they managed a Mobil gas station on Riverside in St. Clair for many years. In the 1950’s she helped champion the establishment of a public swimming pool in St. Clair, where children could learn to swim. Lois Stubbs later administered the Jenks Insurance Agency located in the Commercial & Savings Bank in St. Clair.
Lois Stubbs Simmons was a member of the First United Methodist Church and participated in its women’s circles. For 40 years she enjoyed being part of a monthly couples group, the Potluck Club, which shared dinners and conversation. She was an avid reader, an adventurous cook, and an expert candy-maker. She liked cards and board games and always expected to win.
Her first husband, John E. Stubbs, died in 1976. She subsequently married Lloyd Simmons of East China in 1982. He passed away in 1996. Lois Stubbs Simmons is preceded in death by her brother, John K. Bell (1970), and her daughter, Nancy Bell Stubbs Barr (1998).
She is survived by her sister, Janet Bell (Joseph) Denomy of St. Clair and a cousin, Marion Smith (Will) Jones of Marine City, as well as by her children and their spouses: Jerry Barr of Orlando, FL; Janet Stubbs Blanck of St. Clair; Joseph and Linda (Trombley) Stubbs of Arlington, VA; and the Rev. Jack Stubbs and Laura Jean Deming of Fond du Lac, WI. She was especially proud of her grandchildren: Linda Barr (Jeff) Horney of Romeo, Amy Barr (Scott) Carbeck of Harbor Springs, MI; Heather Barr (Tony) Butler of Clermont, FL; Kelly Blanck (Ray) Tucker of St Clair; Tim (Katie) Blanck of Rochester, MI; Matthew (Sara) Stubbs of Seattle, WA; and Hannah Stubbs of St. Louis, MO. She was close to her niece and husband, Julie and George Sheele of St. Clair. She is also survived by 10 great grandchildren and several Stubbs family brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Nancy B. Barr Scholarship Fund with checks payable to the Four County Community Foundation, 231 E. St. Clair, P.O. Box 539, Almont, MI 48003; or to the Methodist Children’s Home Society, 26645 W. Six Mile Road, Redford, MI 48240.
Visitation, Sunday from 2-6 PM in the L.C. Friederichs & Son Funeral Home, St. Clair. In state Monday at the First United Methodist Church, St. Clair from, 10 AM, Until service at 11 AM, Rev Don Gotham officiating. Burial in Hillside Cemetery.
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