Lois Ann Wathen

Lois A. Wathen, 94, of Independence, IA, passed away on March 14, 2024, at the Hiawatha Care Center in Hiawatha, IA.

Lois was born on September 5, 1929, in Fayette County, Iowa, the daughter of Inez and Lester Cue. Her family moved around a lot when she was younger; and being the second youngest of seven children she always had someone to play with. The Cue settled in independence when she was in ninth grade, and in high school she played basketball and directed the play her senior year. Lois was the only one of her siblings to graduate from high school; she graduated from Independence High School in 1946. She learned to value education for the rest of her life.

Lois was working in a movie theater as an usher when she met Charles “Bill” Wathen. They were later married on November 23, 1949, in the parsonage of the First United Methodist Church in Independence, IA. They made their home together in an apartment in Independence. She often remembered that while living in that apartment they used the kitchen window for their refrigerator during the winter, until spring came.

Lois worked for many years as a secretary at the Independence Middle School until she retired in 1991. She always helped with all the chores around the farm after a full day of work and put a home-cooked dinner on the table. Lois volunteered at Hospice and was a member of the Methodist Church.

She is survived by her three children: Gail Murphy, Michael (Lynne) Wathen, Carl (Lynne) Wathen, and a foreign exchange student, Carol Fagan from New Zealand; seven grandchildren: Ben Murphy, Megan Murphy Salyer, Leia Wathen, Melissa Kopf, Brian Wathen, Bethany Votroubek, and Alison Wathen Herfkens; ten great grandchildren, and a sister-in-law, Linda Martin. She is also survived by her pup, Opie.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, and all of her siblings: Minnie LaVon Brelsford, Bernard Cue, Mildred Sines, Faye Cue, Lyle Cue, and Beverly “June” Carson, as well as her son-in-law Dennis Murphy.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, March 18th, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in Independence, IA. Burial will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 PM until 8 PM on Sunday, March 17th, at the Reiff Family Center – Funeral Home & Crematory in Independence, IA.