Obituaries

Lois Marie Ashburn Pace, 90, gently passed away Aug. 7, 2015, in Weatherford, TX. Lois was born Jan. 14, 1925 in Denison, TX. She graduated from Denison High School in 1941, where she turned heads as the tall drum major of the marching band and younger daughter of Denison Mayor and Ashburn Ice Cream owner W.L. Ashburn, Jr. Lois married Harold W. Pace, of Whitewright, in 1946. They had been married 61 years at the time of his death in 2008. Lois received her BA from Baylor University, studying education and art, and her MA in Education from North Texas University. She also received her Reading Specialist Certification from East Texas State University. Lois retired after 33 years as a public school teacher, teaching elementary and junior high grades, art, ESL classes and students who had reading challenges in Sherman, Austin, Fort Worth and Grand Prairie. She also served as a youth group leader at Grand Prairie First United Methodist Church. She was named “Teacher of the Year” (1970) by the Grand Prairie ISD and received a special honor as “Outstanding Educator 2012” from the Grand Prairie High School Alumni Association. After retirement she pursued her love of competitive tennis. Lois is survived by her brothers and their wives: Bill and Yvonne Ashburn, of Denison, and Don and Priscilla Ashburn, of Houston; her daughter-in-law, Shelley Hilton Pace of Weatherford; and nieces and nephews Rita Sandlin, Rhonda Armstrong, Karen Trammell, Donna Johnson Nora, Debbie Foster, Amy Davidson and Billy, Brian, Lee Ann, Donnie and Brad Ashburn, and their respective families. Lois is preceded in death by her parents, Blanch and W.L. Ashburn, Jr., sister and brother-in-law Peggy and R.L. Skaggs, niece Sharon Gentry, husband Harold W. Pace and son Harold W. Pace, Jr. She will be fondly remembered and missed by her family, friends, fellow teachers, past students, tennis team members and also her newest friends--the residents and her caregivers at Martin Crest Assisted Living and with Hospice Plus, who have the gratitude of Lois’ family for their many kindnesses and loving care. Visitation will be from 11:00 am to 1 pm, Wed., Aug. 12 at Dannel’s Funeral Home in Sherman, TX. Funeral service will follow at 1:00 pm in Dannel’s Chapel. Rev. William Lafayette Ashburn IV (Lois’ nephew Billy) will officiate. If you would like to honor Lois’ memory with a charitable donation, please contact the Meals on Wheels program in your community.