Lois Virginia Smith McIntire passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on May 10, 2019. She was 93, or as she liked to point out, was in her 94th year. She attributed her longevity and vigor to chocolate and Diet Coke.
Lois was born on December 9, 1925 in Provo, Utah to Roy Wesley Smith and Arvilla Mae Eddins. As a young girl, she loved dancing ballet en pointe with a passion. She was a child of the Great Depression, and as such, would learn to value hard work and ingenuity, as well as cultivate refulness, resilience, and an attitude of gratitude all throughout her life.
She was a “Rosie the Riveter” during WWII, working as a vital factory worker in Long Beach, California, and later, at Hill Air Force Base while her husband served in the Navy. Lois met her husband of 64 years, Duane Merle “Dude” McIntire, during high school in Grand Junction, Colorado. She was a cheerleader, he was a charmer.
It was inevitable. They were married and eventually sealed on December 4, 1963 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple and were blessed with five children. Lois was an exceptional seamstress, sewing many of her children’s clothes and grandchildren’s Halloween costumes.
She designed and sold beautiful wedding dresses and worked as a fine-draperies seamstress for over 32 years, retiring at age 76. She was naturally artistic and used her talents in home and garden design, art, and calligraphy—gifts that her children and grandchildren would also inherit. Lois’ life was one of family devotion, service, and unconditional love.
She made every person she met feel her love and sincerity. She adored her family and was involved in the details of her children and grandchildren’s lives. She was also a worrier because she cared so much, and if you didn’t call her back when she was expecting it, she’d worry that you were “dead in a ditch” somewhere.
She made her home a refuge for all, keeping it meticulously clean, full of warmth, love, long hugs, and laughter, and stocked with everyone’s favorite foods. She was generous both in heart and spirit, lifting those that were down, a true friend who was fiercely loyal. Lois loved to travel, often gathering her family together for parties and trips to Grand Junction, the Pacific Coast, and Hawaii.
She was relevant and current with the times, had a soft spot for Hallmark movies, loved a good debate, and believed there was only one right way to do a particular task—and she was almost always right. She will be remembered for her incredible cooking, the amazing candy she would painstakingly make every Christmas, and her stunning and legendary Christmas tree. Lois was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served in many capacities, including her favorite calling as Primary President, which she did for 27 years straight.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Duane, her sister Polly Woodward, her daughter Sheila Mavin, and her son-in-law Richard Mavin. The family takes comfort in her reunion with Dude and can imagine him greeting her with a decade-in-the-making joke that starts with “Hey, Tubby! ” and which ends with her usual reply, “Oh, Dude!
” She is survived by her children Sheryl Grant (James A.), Deborah Larkins (Michael R.), David McIntire (Julie S.), Roger McIntire (Lynette); her grandchildren Trevor Maviano (Addison), Diedre Mavin (Harper Greene), Matthew Jones (Michelle), Lindsay Jones, Tyler Larkins (Akiko), Devin Larkins (Precy), Aaron McIntire (Lori), Joshua McIntire (Bridgette Rose), Jake McIntire (Brooke); her step-grandchildren Chris, Lindsey, and Ashley Kerr; Zane and Cade Rizzuto and her great-grandchildren Jessica, Sofia, Santino, and Jacqueline Maviano; Izabella Blue Tolman; Makayla, Mikah, and Kai Larkins; Kaitlin and Olivia McIntire; Lexie and Lucas McIntire; Madison and McKenna McIntire; Louis Greene; Persephone Jones; and Grant McIntire. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd. , Layton, Utah.
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