Obituary of Lois Engell

Lois Ellen (Gray) Engell, age 80, passed away on September 6, 2014 after a feisty battle with cancer. She was born on a stump at the family farm in Steuben Township near Townville on February 9, 1934, the only daughter of Walter F. and Corrine (Whitman) Gray. Her seven brothers referred to her as "Sis" After graduating from Townville High, she moved to Erie to attend Erie Business Center. While working at the record department at S.S .Kresges she met her future husband Wilmer L. (Willie) Engell. Willie was drafted into the Navy and left shortly after their wedding. Lois's new sister-in-law, LaVera, taught Lois to drive and she drove to Rhode Island to visit Willie every chance she had. Driving became one of her great passions in life and after her children were grown she was always on the road-visiting, traveling, transporting people for appointments, putting babies to sleep, and just taking a ride! Lois worked at Erie Resistor until the birth of her second child at which time she became a full time homemaker. Willie and Lois built a house together in McKean, Willie being the skilled tradesman and Lois his laborer. She mixed mortar and carried buckets of it, as well as transporting cement blocks, nails, tools, boards, bricks etc. She loved a clean house, clean laundry, and enjoyed doing yard work. As their family grew, Lois was an active mother, involved with the PTA, a Little League supporter, room mother, a Girl Scout leader, sent her kids to Sunday School weekly, took the kids to the zoo and the Peninsula often and taught them to bug State Street. She was a member of the McKean Fireman's Auxiliary and spent several years cleaning fish for their annual fish fry and later baking pies for their dinners. She joined a bowling league and was a League Bowler for about 40 years, attending tournaments all over the country. Lois never drank or smoked but liked to socialize. When her girls were older they also joined the bowling league with her and she introduced them and their friends to the Best Western where they enjoyed dancing with her. Lois stayed active with the Girl Scouts (nicknamed Cinderella) her whole life and belonged to two adult groups, the Encourilators, a service oriented group and the Evergreens who were semi-retired but still camped together. She had Girl Scout friends in Puerto Rico whom she visited and played hostess to when they came here. Lois was a member of the McKean Golden Agers and attended Sterrettania Alliance Church. Lois loved her family and would do anything for them. She was also committed to babies that needed special attention and older people that required care. Lois was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Willie Engell in 2009. Also preceding her in death were her brothers Eugene, Floyd, Wallace, Louis, Donald, Oscar, and infant Roy Gray; and brothers-in-law Arthur and Lester Engell and sisters-in law; LaVera Engell and Mildred Engell Hemme. Lois is survived by four daughters, Cindy Vanco (Tim) of McKean, Sharon Michael (Jay) of Columbus, OH, Carolyn Ogden (John) of Waterford, and Karen Engell (Jim Proudfit) of Cleveland: a son, Thomas Engell of Tomball, Texas ; daughter-in law, Patty Tirak of Fairview; eight grandchildren, Alisa and Lincoln Vanco, Eddie Michael, and Stephanie (Justin) Rivers, Sarah and Seth (Anna) Ogden, Ashlee Engell, Iann Proudfit and soon to be announced Baby Proudfit; and three great grandchildren, Lydia, Andrew and Titus Rivers. Also survived by a brother, William Gray, brother-in-law, Ellery Engell and sisters-in-law, Charlotte and Jesse Engell as well as close friends, Millie Bennett and Pearl Schneider. Lois will be greatly missed by many family members including nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Friday, Sept. 12, 2014 from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of funeral service there at 11:00 a.m. conducted by the Rev. Tom Hunsberger. Private interment. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania, 5681 Route 6N Edinboro, PA 16412 or to Sterrettania Alliance Church, 6750 West Rd., McKean, PA 16426 or charity of one's choice.