Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
Sunday, July 12, 2009

LOIS SANDERS JOHNS BOOKER

Kilpatrick Funeral Home
West Monroe, LA

Services for Lois Sanders Johns Booker will be held at 2:00 P. M. on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 in the chapel of Kilpatrick Funeral Home in West Monroe, LA. with Rev. John Harp and Rev. Bill Page of Brookwood Baptist Church presiding. Burial will be at Hasley Cemetery in West Monroe, LA. under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home.

Lois Sanders Johns Booker, 81, died July 11, 2009 at Lifecare Hospital in Shreveport, LA following surgery complications.

She was born September 4, 1927, in Winnfield, LA. in the Gaars Mill Community. She attended Gaars Mill School and Welcome Home Baptist Church where she made a profession of faith when she was twelve years old.

As a young woman, Miss Lois managed the The College Friend, a diner on the campus of Northeast State College, where she enjoyed getting to know the Monroe community. She was encouraged to apply as a Drivers License Examiner Clerk position with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety. She was employed by the State Police Headquarters for the Monroe office and helped open the new West Monroe Office. She was a trailblazer in Louisiana politics and became the first female Supervisor for the Louisiana Department of Public Safety. For 30 years Miss Lois was known as the ``Drivers License Lady.'' Not only did she support the role of public service officials, she entered the political arena in a bid for Alderman of West Monroe.

Lois was an active member of the First Baptist Church of West Monroe, as well as being a patron of the Monroe Little Theatre and Miss Louisiana Pageant. She was a regular volunteer for the Glenwood Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, the West Monroe Civic Center, Civil Defense, and West Monroe Lions Club. Lois was well-traveled and enjoyed a great many adventures abroad. She was a board member of Twin City Bank of West Monroe and was named as a Paul Harris Fellow for the Monroe Rotary Club. She served as a Grand High Priestess for the El Lotus Court #82 of the Ladies Oriental Shrine and the Order of the Eastern Star. Her greatest love was working for the Shriners Hospitals. She organized endless parties and hand-made needed bags and quilts for the patients. She enjoyed being Mrs. Claus for their annual Christmas party at the Shriners Hospital in Shreveport.

After moving next door to daughter Jo in Shreveport in 1991, Lois became a vital part of the Southern Hills community. She was a member of Brookwood Baptist Church. Lois was an accomplished seamstress and an avid LSU fan. She has always been known for her generosity to others. Her greatest gift to all around her was her never-ending positive spirit of encouragement, love, and support. She counted everything as a blessing and never let others forget how fortunate they were.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Viola and Chester Sanders, first husband, Elmer Johns, and second husband, Lewis (P.L.) Booker, and brothers, Robert Sanders, Derald Sanders, Chester Sanders, Jr. and Charles Sanders, and grandson, Richard Alexander.

Lois is survived by her daughter Jo and husband Gene Rhymes of Shreveport; granddaughters, Rhonda and husband Todd Alexander of Stephenville, TX. and Shelly Barrett of Bossier City; great-grandchildren, Jennifer Coutee of Weatherford, TX. and Josh Barrett of Bossier City; brothers, Garland and wife Udene Sanders, Don and wife Etta Sanders, sister Doyce and husband George Garner, sisters-in-law Norene Sanders and Bobbie Sanders, numerous nieces and nephews, and many loving friends.

The family extends special thanks and gratitude to Dr.Tim Nicholls and all the loving, caring employees of Lifecare Hospital in Shreveport.

Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children in Shreveport.

Visitation on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 from 12:00 until service time at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in West Monroe, LA.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.