Lois Crocker

Lois Jean Crocker, age 81 years, former longtime resident of Niles, Michigan died at 12:47 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2015 at her home in Apache Junction, Arizona following an illness.

She was born on July 11, 1934 in Niles to Fred and Florence (Unley) Kater. She graduated from Niles High School, and attended Southwestern Michigan College. She was retired from the Niles Community Schools, having served for twelve years as a teacher’s aide. She and her husband moved to Apache Junction in 2004.

Lois was a founding member of Saint Mark Catholic Church in Niles. She was also a member and volunteer at Fernwood Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. She enjoyed arts and crafts, and was accomplished in various textile arts.

On January 19, 1952 in Niles she married Thomas H. Crocker with whom she celebrated last January the remarkable sixty-third anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes her husband, Tom Crocker and their children, Tammalia “Tammy” (& Steve) Sapmaz of Edwardsburg, Michigan, Bridget Perry of San Tan Valley, Arizona, and Brenda (& Tom) Vokal of Nunica, Michigan; grandchildren Jennifer (& Tyler) Young, Kimberly Kujawa, Brian Holmes, Jr., Sgt. Jason (& Renee) Holmes, U. S. Army, and Andrew Sapmaz; and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, by a grandson, Brian Kujawa, and her siblings, Alma Weaver and Fred, Bill, Walter, and Richard Kater.

The Catholic Funeral Liturgy for Lois Crocker will be read at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2015 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C. of Saint Mark Catholic Church. Committal Rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Lois may be made to Saint Mark Catholic Church, or to the Wounded Warrior Project.