Lois Jean Harrington

Lois Jean Harrington, 89, of Newton, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, at her home in Newton Village. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends after the service with a lunch at the funeral home. Memorials to Newton Village or Hospice of the Midwest may be left at the funeral home.

Lois, the daughter of Paul G. and Ida (Holmes) Brand, was born Aug. 8, 1930, in rural Sully. She grew up in the Sully and Killduff area graduating from Killduff Elementary School in 1944 and then from Newton High School in 1948. After meeting at a dance, Lois was united in marriage with Roy Ratcliff April 9, 1949, in Killduff. They were blessed with four children, Robert, Randall, Scott and Angela. Lois and Roy lived in Killduff until 1961 when they moved to Newton. Lois was a homemaker for 41 years and then worked at Power Drug Store for five years, retiring in 1995. On Oct. 14, 1995, Lois was married to Charles “Chuck” Harrington in Newton.

Lois was a member of the Newton First Presbyterian Church, Skiff Medical Center Auxiliary, Newton Alumni Association, Jasper County Historical Society, Jasper County “I” Club and the Newton Senior Alumni Association. Lois loved visiting with family and friends, attending her children and grandchildren’s activities and babysitting her grandchildren. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading and traveling.

Lois is survived by her children, Randall (Wanda) Ratcliff of San Antonio, Texas, Scott (Traci) Ratcliff of Newton and Angela (Steve) Harlow of Newton; daughter-in-law, Thelma Ratcliff of Newton; her step-children, Cheryl and David Harrington; 12 grandchildren and step-grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Chuck Harrington; first husband and the father of her children, Roy Ratcliff; her son, Robert Ratcliff; and brother, Gerald Brand.