Lois Euvonne Akins

December 15, 1922 - September 1, 2020

Lois Euvonne (McCormick) Akins was the 15th of 17 children born December 15, 1922 to James and Nora (Edelman) McCormick in Lucas County, Iowa. She attended schools in Lucas County and graduated from Norwood High School in 1941. Later graduating with a BA from Simpson College and a MA from Drake University. Lois taught in country school in Marion County in the early 1940’s. She joined the Navy in 1943 and served her country in the Waves for 3 years during WWII. While stationed in Ohio she met her husband, Jim. They were married in 1946 and enjoyed 48 years together before his death in 1994. They moved to Iowa in 1950. Lois finished her degrees and then began teaching in the Knoxville Community Schools for 33 years until her retirement in 1986. Lois and Jim were active in the Marion County Historical Society and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. Lois enjoyed traveling, cake decorating, doll making, card making and knitting. In 2017 she knitted 600 pairs of mittens that were given to local children through the school. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jim and 16 brothers and sisters. Lois passed away quietly on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at Parkridge Care Center, in Pleasant Hill, under the care of Care Initiatives Hospice. Those left to honor her memory include four daughters: Nancy Akins Sevde (Craig) of West Des Moines and their daughters, Megan Roettger (D.J.) of Clive; Jennifer Sevde (Trevor Sinnard) of Denver; Katie Northway (Andy) of Altoona and Lindsay Hegel (Tommy) of Adel; Adeline Akins Redman of Altoona and daughter Nicole Lepley of Newton; Betty Bailey (Don) of Knoxville and Loisanne Bryant (Tim) of Arizona and their son Brandon Bryant of Arizona. Her great-grandchildren: Katelin, Jonathan, Carter, Austin and Karsyn Northway, Reese Roettger and Shepard and Hank Hegel. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Marion County Historical Society.