RALEIGH, N.C. – Lois Priscilla Wheeler (Wallace) Braun, 74, was called home to her Lord Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, 2011. She was born Feb. 6, 1937, to Violet Miller Wheeler and John F. Wheeler of Millinocket.
She enjoyed an idyllic childhood growing up with her two sisters and playing in the woods and streams near Mount Katahdin and Baxter State Park. She graduated from Stearns High School, where she participated in basketball, orchestra and what would become a lifelong passion – theatre. She played trombone in the high school marching band, which had the honor of playing in the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C. In 1954 she married Roger A. Wallace, also of Millinocket, and they had four redheaded children. She was a member of Order of the Eastern Star and a past worthy matron. Lois and Roger moved to Vermont in 1966, where she enjoyed gardening, skiing and raising her children. In 1984 Lois married a second time to William H. Braun of Colchester, Vt. Together they participated in local theatre, took up beekeeping, grew Christmas trees and made maple syrup. Bill predeceased Lois in 1987. Lois went to work as her children grew, first for Sears, then at Chittenden Trust Co. In 1982 she completed a degree in business from Trinity College. Before retiring Lois worked for Vermont Housing Finance Agency. She sang with the Colchester (Vt.) Community Chorus, along with her daughter Josepha. They and her sister Ruth toured England and Wales in 1998, where the chorus performed in castles and cathedrals. Lois then moved to Oakton, Va., where she was very active in Vienna Baptist Church, spent time with her grandchildren and learned to play piano. Lois loved children and animals, and was a very popular babysitter in Vienna. In 2005 she relocated to Raleigh, N.C., to be near her daughter Tamsin and her family. Lois joined the congregation at Wakeminster Baptist Church. She served as deacon, sang in the choir and led the theatre ministry directing wonderful Christmas pageants. She also took painting lessons and loved to travel. She often visited her son John and family in California, and took trips to Europe and the Caribbean. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she expressed a desire to go to Hawaii. The family took her for a fabulous vacation where they hiked the Mauna Loa volcano, sailed the Na Pali coast, visited Pearl Harbor, and four-wheeled through the rain forest.
Survivors include daughters, Katherine Wallace of Beaufort, N.C., and her son, Jason Sterling and his family of St. Albans, Vt., Tamsin Nesvisky and husband, David, of Raleigh, N.C., and their sons, Alexander and Aidan, and Josepha Austin and husband, Robert, and their sons, Travis and Chance; and Lois’ son, John Wallace and wife, Daiana, and their children, Janelle and Ian. In addition, she is survived by her sisters, Ruth Wiley and husband, Glenn, and Dawn Hale and husband, Jack, both of Millinocket; great-grandchildren, Riley, Lily and Grey Sterling; many nieces and nephews. Lois is also survived by her dear “fourth daughter”, Kathryn “K Lynn” Kokiko of Raleigh, N.C. The family wishes to extend sincerest thanks to all of Lois’ friends and neighbors, including Eric Herr, Joan Otto, Kay Williams, Pat Casey, Karen Williams, Becky Shue, Merle and Jennifer Martin, and members of Wakeminster Baptist Church, the Praise Band and her Sunday school class. The family also wishes to express appreciation to Dr. Victoria Bae Jump and the nurses and staff of UNC Hospital, and Hospice House of Wake County for all their compassion and support.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Wakeminster Baptist Church, Senior Choir, 13221 Old Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27613.