Lois Margaret Pitcher

     Lois Margaret (Martin) Pitcher, age 90, passed away on September 13, 2025, in Valparaiso, Indiana. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, and artist. After the passing of her husband of 67 years, Neville, she relocated to NW Indiana to be near family.
     Lois and her twin-sister Louise were born at home in Stanton, Michigan to Simeon and Ruby (Andrews) Martin on July 15, 1935. They were the youngest of 7 children. They attended primary school in McBride and graduated from Stanton High School in 1954. After the loss of both parents, the twins moved in with their oldest brother, Melvin, while they attended County Normal to become teachers. She and Louise held their first teaching job at a two-room schoolhouse in Gowen, Michigan. Louise taught the younger children while Lois taught the older ones. After a year of teaching, she married Neville Pitcher, son of Laurence and Lucile (Long) Pitcher of Vickeryville, Michigan in 1956. She continued her teaching education in Home Economics at Michigan State University and graduated in the late fifties after student-teaching at Ithaca High School.
     Lois then taught at Alma Schools until 1962, when she and Neville started a family. While raising her children, she shared her sewing expertise as a Bishop Sewing Instructor in Adult Education along with occasional substitute teaching. In 1980, she returned to teaching full-time as a home economics teacher for junior high and high school students in Ithaca and retired in the late nineties.
     Outside of her career in education, Lois enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad. She and Neville visited all 50 states and especially enjoyed National Parks and their Sunday drives throughout Michigan (while Lois knitted socks for the family). She was a life-long golfer at Gratiot County Club; where she and Neville was a fixture in couple’s league. Lois loved to exercise and was an avid bike rider, kayaker, and cross county skier. In her final years, she was often seen walking her devoted Dachshund, Annie around Ithaca. She was one of the organizers of the Herman Hoffer Harvest Adventure and an early supporter of the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail.
     At her heart, Lois was an artist. She was known for her sewing, quilting and painting talent. She made her own clothing, including wedding gowns for herself and her daughter, Jane. She made countless quilts for all occasions for family and friends, including wedding quilts for her children and all her grandchildren. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren also have baby quilts from their Grandma Lois. Later in life, she became passionate about painting, especially watercolors. She was a member of the local arts guild and served in various leadership positions in area Bishop Sewing Councils. There were very few crafts that she wasn’t willing to try or share with others.
     Lois was preceded in death by her husband Neville and her 6 siblings; Melvin Martin, Kenneth Martin, Simeon Martin Jr, Doris Brown, Elton (Joe) Martin, and Louise Braman. Lois is survived by her children: Jane (Stephen) Dulski of Cleveland, OH, James (Kimberly) Pitcher of Valparaiso, IN, and Jay (Carrie) Pitcher of San Antonio, TX; grandchildren: Matthew, Thomas (Sneha) and John Dulski, Zachary (Jaclyn) and Benjamin (Juliet) Pitcher, Katelyn, Margaret, and Tess Pitcher; great-grandchildren: Charlotte, Oliver and Henry Pitcher.
     The celebration of Lois’ life will be held this Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI. Visitation starts at 12:00 P.M. until the time of the service at 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home. A dessert at the Ithaca Senior Center (1011 E. North Street Ithaca, MI 48847) will follow to share stories and memories.
     In honor of Lois’ many artistic gifts, attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite piece of art or quilting from Lois or to send a picture to the family at pitchlmp@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting a donation to the Sue Dilts Memorial Art Scholarship via the Gratiot Country Community Foundation. To donate go to https://bit.ly/Remembering-Lois-Pitcher, in the Designation field enter “Sue Dilts Memorial Art Scholarship” and in the Dedication field enter “In remembrance of Lois Pitcher”. Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, Michigan.