Lois Caulk Keenan

Lois Caulk Keenan passed away December 30, 2017 at the age of 91 at the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

She was born June 29, 1926, to Harold Garland Caulk and Bessie McCrary in Chromo, Colorado. She was welcomed by an older sister, Wyona. The family moved to Arboles, Colorado, in the fall of 1926 and lived there for 3 years. In 1928, her sister Wyona died, a loneliness she felt for the rest of her life. In 1929, her dad bought a ranch in Chromo, Colorado. They moved there and made this the family home until Garland’s death in 1975.

Lois attended 1-8th grade in a one-room school house in Chromo. She traveled to and from school on her trusty horse, Old Dan. When it came time to go to high school, she boarded with people in Pagosa Springs; the Lloyd Anderson family, the Hatcher family and her Aunt Ada Davis for two years. While there, she and her cousin-sister, Kay, became very close. She made friends with Thelma Keenan and moved in with her family to finish high school. It was at the Keenan family home where she met her future husband, Victor. Lois graduated from Pagosa Springs High School on May 26, 1945.

Victor and Lois were married on June 15, 1945, at her parents’ home in Chromo. Their first home was in Rifle, Colorado. They didn’t stay for long and moved back to the Ranch in Chromo. In the spring of 1946, Victor went to work for the Fish and Wildlife Service trapping coyotes and bobcats. That winter they lived in a little cabin about 9’x12’ south of Ignacio, Colorado, at La Boca.

In the spring , they moved to Bayfield, rented a cabin with 2 rooms. John arrived in 1947 at Mercy Hospital in Durango, Colorado. That summer, they bought one acre of land at Gem Village to build a house but sold it and moved back to Chromo to farm. Hazel was born 1949, at Mercy Hospital in Durango.

While living at the ranch, Victor and Lois’ dad, Garland, bought a saw mill. They cut trees from the ranch to make lumber to build homes for her parents and themselves. Victor drew the plans for the houses and for all the buildings at the ranch.

After 6 years, they left and Victor went back to work for the Fish & Wildlife Service. They moved to Trinidad then to Craig, Colorado. Mary Louise was born in Craig 1956. Victor took a Civil Service test and was able to get a promotion to a District Supervisor. They moved to Denver for 2 years, then to Monte Vista until Victor retired.

After Victor retired in 1980, they moved back to the ranch in Chromo. Lois stayed at the ranch until Victor’s death in 1993. In 1994 she moved to Olathe, Colorado to be by Mary. In 2006, she moved to Shelley, ID, to be near Hazel and her family. She was able to live in her home with help from her granddaughter, Michelle, and others until 5 months before she died.

Lois worked for many years at J.C. Penny. She was a wonderful homemaker and loved to cook, sew, garden, and care for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her family never wanted for anything. Lois was active in her church wherever she lived. She was a devout Christian. Jesus was the focus of her faith in all situations of her life. Her latest church home was the Shelley Community United Methodist Church, Shelley, Idaho.

Lois is preceded in death by her parents, Garland and Bessie Caulk; her husband, Victor; and her sister, Wyona.

She is survived by her children, John & Gloria Keenan (Farmington, NM), Hazel & George Meshrow (Idaho Falls, ID), and Mary & Bryan Gomez (Gresham, OR); her sister-cousin, Kay Randall (Dallas, Texas); grandchildren Michelle & Brett Waters, Katie Bradley, Kelli Keenan, Amber & Matt Roberts, Megan and Andrew Lieberenz, and Randel Gomez; great grandchildren Brady, Bryce, & Carson Waters; Eli, Tyler, & Devon Roberts; Jade & Ava Lieberenz; Lucas and Lily Ambrogi & Bailee Neal.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 6, at the Shelley Community United Methodist Church, 190 South Holmes, Shelley, Idaho with Pastor Davey Lefler and Pastor Bryan Gomez officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Nalder Funeral Home in Shelley. Interment will be at the Hilltop Cemetery in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, in June. Visitation will follow the service.