Lois Mary Cuthbert

Lois Mary Cuthbert (Curzon) died peacefully at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho at the age of 95 on February 21 st . She was surrounded by loved ones for her ending days and moments prior to her death.

Lois was born at Saint Anthony Hospital in Pocatello, Idaho on November 24, 1928 to George Stuart and Mary Alma Curzon. She was the eldest of their three children, with younger brothers Calvin and Kenny Curzon. As a child, she was her dad’s shadow and followed him everywhere. She often shared memories from her childhood. One of which was about how there were chickens and roosters that her family raised, and one of the roosters would chase her. It was mean and would try to peck at her legs as she ran away. She was often trapped in the outhouse because the rooster would stay on patrol and not let her out.

She grew up living in a house on Pole Line Rd until age 13, when her family moved to the Alameda neighborhood on Park Avenue. Her father George built the house they moved into, as well as other houses later on. She was right at home in the Alameda neighborhood and could spend hours at Alameda Park climbing trees.

Lois attended Pocatello High School and graduated in 1947. While she was a teenager and young adult, she worked at Woolworth’s. She loved going to dances at Deleta dance hall, which is where she met the love of her life, Gale Blair Cuthbert. Shortly after meeting, she quit her job at Woolworth’s and married Gale, becoming a military wife at that point. They got married on March 9, 1949 at the Water company on Willard Avenue. While married to Gale, there were many times that he was traveling overseas and Lois missed him so much, she decided that it was time to join him in his travels. It seemed that one of her favorite places they traveled to was The Azores. Gale and Lois made a family with four children: Lance Wayne, twins Jeannet and Annette, and James Manuel. She was a very devoted mother, especially to Annette, who required extra care and special attention.

Once Gale retired from the military, they settled back in Pocatello. Lois’ father George and Gale together built the house that would become their family home, next door to George and Alma’s home. For a short time, Lois worked for Farmers Insurance, eventually quitting to continue being a full-time mom and homemaker. She loved her neighborhood and made friends with many of the neighbors. One particular neighbor was a dear friend of Lois, so much so that they often had spats that could lead to weeks of silent treatment by one or the other, only to eventually make up and be friends again and again. Her cousin Neil lived right across the street and they were good buddies until his passing last year.

Lois was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. While she was unable to attend due to obligations to Annette’s care, she remained faithful in her beliefs. She enjoyed her visiting teachers and visitors from the Relief Society. Later in her life, it became difficult to maintain relationships with other church members, but she carried on with her love of the church.

Throughout her adult life, she had multiple dogs, but her favorite was a Pitbull named Misty. She loved her so much that after Misty died, Lois never got another dog.

Lois had lots of hobbies. She loved oil painting landscapes, especially including old barns. She liked crocheting, knitting, drawing, bead work, cross-stich, embroidery, puzzles, reading westerns and scriptures, watching action movies, baking, cooking, and canning, taking candid pictures of her loved ones and new landscapes to paint, gardening, taking walks while kicking the rocks, and sewing. She made most of her own clothes, and all of Annette’s. She frequently made gifts of paintings, stocking hats, blankets, slippers, potholders, Christmas ornaments, and many other things. She loved sharing her talents with all of her loved ones.

Some additional things she loved spending her time doing include playing Pacman and Pinball on Atari. She also loved music from Phantom of the Opera and Elvis. Her favorite programs to watch on TV were Bob Ross, Jerry Yarnell, pro-golf, the news and weather, Law and Order, and NCIS. She especially loved movies with Steven Seagal and Jean Claude Van Damme. She has been accused of having crushes on many of the leading actors in her favorite action movies.

Lois adored her grandchildren and was always welcoming to visits from them. Her grandchildren remember sharing weekends spent at Grandma’s house. She always made sure to have activities for them to do while they visited, like doing boxes of puzzles or drawing on a big roll of paper.

Lois was very well known for being no-nonsense and getting straight to the point. She enjoyed telling people how it was. We all knew when Grandma meant business, and we didn’t dare step out of line. We also knew how very much Grandma loved us all. In most recent years, Lois needed extra help and care, and son Lance and grandson Paul were her main caregivers. In most recent months, it became necessary for Lois to reside in Lance’s home full-time, next door to her own home.

Lois is preceded in death by her parents George and Alma, parents-in-law Blair and Olive, brother Calvin, husband Gale, grandson David, daughters Jeannet and Annette, brother-in-law Kenneth, grandson-in-law Troy, and daughter-in-law Sally. She is survived by her sons Lance and James (Gina), brother Kenny (Norma), grandchildren Paul, Sherry (Cory), Sylvia, Mindy, Jeremy (Natalie), Johnathon (Kesha), Lindia (Johnny), Andrew, Jordan, and numerous great and great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Lois’ funeral will be held on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 2:00pm, with viewing beginning at 1:00pm. Services will be at Manning-Wheatley Funeral Home located at 510 N. 12 Avenue in Pocatello. Interment will take place directly following at Restlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Pocatello.