Lois Irene McLeod's Obituary
Lois Stephan McLeod 1932 - 2018 Regardless if people had known Lois their entire lives or just met her on the street, they were forever impacted by her positive energy, constant smile, and sense of style. Lois believed in the potential for everyone to overcome any obstacle; she was a leader to any challenge. Lois was always UP. Born in 1932, Lois Kafer recognized she was destined for a life beyond the constraints of a small farming community in the cornfields of Illinois (Fairbury). Lois began working at age 12 in the local drugstore. A high school cheerleader who put herself through college after her father wouldn't assist her goal, Lois' love of teaching supported her early family and first husband Allan Stephan's medical education. With her pioneering approach, they moved from Ann Arbor to Bremerton in 1968. After the arrival of her daughter, Michelle, in 1969, Lois stepped out of the classroom and provided years of community leadership: local president of the PTA, youth sports, and community arts. Lois returned to work in the mid-70's with the visionary purchase of an early minicomputer for her husband's medical practice. She managed the practice until his death in 1984. Always resourceful, Lois sold the practice and became an advocate for those suffering from medical malpractice until 1990. In 1987, Lois moved to Seattle and became a co-investor in her son's (Allan Jr.) formation of Stratos Product Development, a technology consultancy. She joined the firm full time in 1990 as the business manager and mother to all before retiring in 1999. Always the entertainer, Lois spent the past 21 years with the love of her life, Doug McLeod, splitting time in their homes in Scottsdale and Tacoma hosting parties, traveling the world, enjoying the sun, hitting a tennis ball, and spreading love and care in three family systems, Stephan, Peffer, and the McLeod clan. Also noteworthy were her efforts maintaining the profits of Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. For the past several years Doug provided a deeply devoted amount of care for Lois as her health declined. She passed away in her sleep on March 29. A celebration of life service, followed by a reception, will begin at noon Monday, April 9th, at Mountain View Cemetery, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA (South Tacoma). Lois lives on in husband Douglas McLeod, son Allan Stephan, Jr. of Seattle, daughter Michelle Peffer (Chad) of Pacific Palisades, CA, grandchildren Cameron Stephan, Hunter Stephan, Rex Stephan, Hadyn Peffer, and Colton Peffer, two brothers, Richard (Jeanne) Kafer and Kenneth (Gail) Kafer, both of Fairbury, IL, two sisters, Eleanor (Jim) Mott and Carol (Jerry) McGivern, both of Bloomington, IL, and her McLeod stepsons, stepdaughters, and step-grandchildren. We'll all remember that playful spark in her eye, laughter, spontaneous singing, and love of fashion.
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