Cocking, Lois Edit page

Lois Mae Cocking, 94, of Palmetto Florida and most recently, Morningside House of Sarasota, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 20th 2025, where she was reunited with the love of her life, Walter Cocking. Even in these last months, Lois would see a picture of Walt and say, "He takes my breath away!"

Lois was a dedicated mother to 3 surviving children, son Kent (Samantha) Cocking, Upland, Indiana, daughters Karen (Jack) Kouwe, Greenfield, Indiana, and Tammy (Michael) Rogers, West Des Moines, Iowa. Lois was blessed with 3 grandchildren, Jamie (Matt) Jahr, Advance, Missouri, Keith (Kelly) Cocking, Upland, Indiana and Kelbe (Kyle) Goupil, Salt Lake City, Utah; five great- grandchildren, Jacey Jahr, Willa, Walter, Wren and Marjorie Cocking. Lois is also survived by her sister, Evelyn Lehman, Jackson, Michigan. Lois was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Walter Cocking, her parents Clarence and Christella Voss, sister Betty Doud, and sisters-in-law Pauline Hansel and Jean Carrothers.

Lois was born Lois Mae Voss on April 9,1931 in Zeeland Township, Michigan to Clarence and Christella Voss. Lois graduated from Washington Clay High School, South Bend and then earned her Comtometer certificate. She went to Wheaton college, where she met her soulmate, Walter Cocking. Graduating from Wheaton College in 1955, with her Secretarial Science degree in hand, she married the farm boy from Manchester, Iowa and started the greatest adventure of her life.

Shortly after getting married, Walt was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska and the twins (Karen & Kent) were born. After Walt left the service they moved to Barrington, Illinois where Tammy was born. Lois and Walt finally settled in Morton Grove, Illinois where Lois taught high school graduates how to be executive secretaries at Washington National Insurance Company and taught night classes at Oakton Community College. In 1977 Lois began teaching full-time at Johnsburg High School.

Through the years Lois perfected a host of other skills including cooking (Lois's desserts were always the first to go at any pitch-in), sewing (Lois made most of the clothes she and her daughters wore), photography (enjoying the darkroom that Walt built for her in the basement), folk painting (specializing in Santa’s and Uncle Sam’s), quilting (Lois made a quilt for every bed in the cottage), and gardening (Lois’ flower and vegetable gardens were a sight to behold).

Upon retirement in 1982, Lois and Walt moved to their summer home in Spirit Lake, Iowa and then became snowbirds once they found their winter home in Tree Lakes RV Resort, Palmetto, Florida. In retirement Lois continued to fill her days by staying active (rollerblading, golfing, and playing bean bag, and bocce), volunteering to cook and bake for her Tree Lakes Family (spearheading annual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners as well as the Strawberry Shortcake Festival, where she was known for serving her famous shortcake to more than 300 people each March), and she founded a new business, Nine Lives Antiques (where Lois sold antique glass and porcelain for more than 20 years, gaining many friends along the way).

In the last days of Lois’ life, she never lost sight that Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior, was walking beside her, even as she battled Parkinson's and through the loss of her husband, Walt. These words from Psalm 121 brought Lois great comfort in her last days; “I lift up my eyes to the mountains-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-He who watches over you will not slumber;..the Lord will keep you from all harm-He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

The family wishes to thank the staff at Morningside House and Tidewell Hospice for their tender loving care of Lois.