Lois Williams Strong Heidrick, 97, of Beaumont, died Saturday, October 22, 2005 in Houston.
Lois was born in Lorena, Texas on September 21, 1908 to Emma Henderson Williams and Harry Morgan Williams. She attended
S.M.U. for two years and then transferred to the University of Texas. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority and graduated with High Honors in 1929. She married Ewell Strong in 1931 and moved to Beaumont. In 1937, Lois was a charter member of both the Junior League of Beaumont and Magnolia Garden Club. She was president of the Host Families of Lamar University for over fifteen years and was Secretary of the Board of Counselors at St. Elizabeth Hospital for ten years. At Dick Dowling School, she helped Spanish speaking students learn English. She was a longtime board member of the YWCA, Beaumont Music Commission, Beautify Beaumont Committee and Beaumont Children’s Home. In 1983, Lois was named Sustainer of the Year by the Beaumont Junior League and in 1990; she received the Zone 9 Civic Improvement Award from the Garden Club of America for her recycling efforts. In recent years she has been living happily in Atria Collier Park Retirement Home.
Lois was preceded in death by her first husband, Ewell Strong, who died in 1974. In 1983, she married Charles Heidrick, who died in 2001. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara S. Moor and her husband Ted E. Moor, Jr. of Beaumont; her son, Beeman Ewell Strong III and his wife Louise Connally Strong of Houston; five grandchildren, Kathleen Shipley and her husband Wes of Beaumont, Ted E. Moor III and his wife Barbara of Beaumont, Glenn Moor of Lubbock, Beeman C. Strong of Portland, Oregon and Larkin S. Scheet of Seattle, Washington; six great grandchildren, Jennifer Shipley, Kimberly Shipley, Kelly Moor, Kristen Moor, Sara Moor and Rachel Moor; and two great-great grandchildren, Damian Phelps and Mason Phelps.
Funeral service will be 2:00 P. M. Saturday, October 29, 2005 at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont with The Reverend Dean Calcote, officiating. Her burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will be from 5:00 P. M. until 7:00 P. M. Friday, October 28, 2005 at the Mortuary.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Dan Harmon and to Odyssey Hospice. We also appreciate the faithful service of her caregivers, Sharon Bossette, Marilyn Bryant, Faye Coleman, Cynthia Goudeau, Doris Martin, LaKeitha Mickens, Sharon Mickens and Katisa Williams.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Garden Guild, 680 Calder, Beaumont, Texas 77702 or charity of donor’s choice.
