Lois Ann (Anderson) DeVaney was born on July 6, 1948, to Lillian and William Anderson. She grew up in Rochester, WA with her older siblings Ken, Judy, and Carol. She was an avid reader from an early age who loved to sing and to go fishing with her dad. She graduated from Rochester High in 1966, where she was a smart, fun-loving member of the drill team nicknamed ‘Louie’ by her classmates.

After attending Central Washington University, Lois began work at Sunset Life Insurance Company in Olympia, where she met D. Michael “Mike” DeVaney. The two married in 1970 and moved to Seattle, where Lois worked as a secretary for the chair of the math department at UW while Mike completed his degree. They welcomed their first son, Jonathan, in 1971. They later settled in Bremerton where son Joshua was born in 1974 and daughter Shannon in 1979. The family moved to Kennewick in 1987.

Lois will be remembered for her abundant love for family and friends, especially for children; and as someone who gave generously of her time and talents. She spent countless hours embroidering tablecloths and quilts for relatives and friends. She baked delicious bread and loved hosting cookie baking sessions in her kitchen for the children in her life. She was a volunteer in the Kennewick School District and was a Cub Scout den mother. She had an appreciation for beautiful things and enjoyed spending time with her sisters browsing in antique stores. Lois loved wordplay and exchanging puns with her family.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Lillian Anderson, sisters Judy Bentsen and Carol Gifford, brother Ken Anderson, and nephew Scott Mohr.

She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Mike DeVaney; son Jonathan and his wife Karen of Yakima; son Joshua and his partner Rose of Spokane; daughter Shannon and her husband Jonathan of Los Angeles; grandsons Owen and Miles DeVaney, both of Yakima; several brothers- and sisters-in-law; many nieces and nephews; and a multitude of friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Lois’s memory to a local food bank or to a charity that supports children’s welfare or literacy.