Lois Mae Fritter

Lois Mae Fritter, age 76, a resident of Richards, died Tuesday, March 15, 2005, at the Boone Hospital Center, Columbia, Mo. She had been staying with her daughter in Columbia since a recent illness. Lois was born in Deerfield, on May 11, 1928, to Hugh William Johnson and Mary Rebecca Neptune Johnson. She married Clayton Clyde Fitter on Aug. 14, 1949, in Fort Scott, Kan. He preceded her in death on Feb. 10, 2003.

She was baptized in the First Church of God. Lois was past secretary of the Richards Senior Citizens, served on the local election board, and wrote the Richards news for the Nevada Daily Mail. She was a former 4-H leader in her earlier years.

Survivors include two daughters, Martha Ann Fritter, Columbia, Mo., and Mary Bailey and husband, Wayne, Green Forest, Ark.; two brothers, Roy Johnson, Fort Scott, Kan., and Bernard Johnson, Deerfield; one sister, Ruth Lowry, Joplin; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, James W. "Jay" Johnson and Olan H. Johnson.

The Rev. Bill Smith will conduct graveside services Friday, March 18, at the U.S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kan. Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel before leaving for the cemetery at 2:15 p.m. The family will receive friends Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Chapel. Memorials are suggested to either the Columbia Humane Society or the American Cancer Society with emphasis of breast cancer and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.