Lois Lefkowsky Wells passed peacefully at home on January 9, 2025, two weeks short of her 100th birthday. Born January 22, 1925, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Alva Lois Lefkowsky grew up in Port Arthur, Texas. Daughter of Russian immigrant Paul Lefkowsky and Olive Dean Hutchinson of Mississippi, Lois grew up helping in her parents' mom and pop Economy Grocery. She was a Campfire Girl and proud member of the Red Hussars Drum and Bugle Corps.

Lois attended Lamar Junior College and the University of Texas, Austin, where she was a member of Alpha Phi and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. While teaching third grade in Port Arthur, she earned her Master's Degree in Education at the University of Houston. Before meeting Gulf Oil chemical engineer William T. Wells at a party in Port Arthur, Lois worked at Foley's in downtown Houston. Bill and Lois married in 1954, and after a transfer to Toledo, Ohio, they built their first home and started a family. Dreaming about travel as a child, Lois got her wish when Bill was transferred to The Hague and London. The family traveled extensively throughout Europe during their two years there, and throughout the U.S. in years following.

The family was transferred to Texas in 1975 when Bill was promoted to Director of Energy Conservation at Gulf Oil headquarters in Houston. Lois became a band booster, supported the ERA, searched for antiques with her friends, and dreamed of purchasing an old house to fix up.

After Bill retired, he and Lois bought a 1910 Craftsman-style house on 10 acres in Alto (East Texas) where they would spend weekends—Lois painting walls and ceilings, Bill clearing brush. The whole family, including grandchildren, enjoyed sitting on the large wraparound porch and playing in the playroom Lois created in an upstairs bedroom complete with toys and games from previous generations.

Lois was a thoughtful and creative homemaker, accomplished seamstress, avid gardener, and all-around nature lover. She enjoyed trips to New Orleans where she would outpace us all on walks around the French Quarter, Cafe DuMonde being an essential stop. In later years, she took the same trips using a wheelchair. She also loved historic home tours in Galveston and shelling on the beach.

Lois was partial to PBS murder mysteries, as well as reading Agatha Christie and other mystery writers. She could never pass up a good bookstore or library, and was a life-long believer that things go better with Coke.

Lois took many photos of our family through the years—first with a Brownie camera, followed by a Polaroid, Kodak 110, and then, reluctantly, a digital camera. She spent countless hours compiling the photos into binders so that we have a lasting visual family history, something we will always be grateful for.

Lois loved reading, travel, musicals, and the color red. She was articulate, sassy and opinionated. She always wanted to help. She encouraged our imaginations.

She was preceded in death by husband William T. Wells. Survived by daughters Carol Wells and Sharon McMahon; son Rick Wells; son-in-law Bryan McMahon; grandchildren Eugene, Sam, and Kate McMahon; granddaughter Dakota Wells and her mother, Tracy Chung. Lois will be missed by her beloved kitties Sweet Tea and Cosmo.

Lois will continue to be a helper via her brain donation to the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio, aiding research for the 55 million people living with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

In lieu of flowers and to honor Lois, contributions may be made to Abandoned Animal Rescue-Tomball https://www.aartexas.org