Obituary of Lois Grace Place

Obituary: Lois Grace Magee Place Lois Grace Magee Place, 86, of Daywood Dr, Baldwinsville, NY and Quaker St, Granville, NY died peacefully in her sleep at her Granville home on Monday October 2, 2017 of natural causes. Lois was born on May 21, 1931 in Troy, NY to the late Courtney Howard and Mable Gertrude (Mealy) Magee. She had one brother, the late Howard James Magee. Lois and her family were members of the 6th Avenue Baptist Church where the youth group was an important part of her teen years. Lois graduated from Lansingburg High School in 1949, then attended Albany Comptometer School for adding machine training where she was the fastest in her class. Lois worked at Central Market for a short time before getting a job and becoming office manager at Berk-Ray in Troy. It was there she literally bumped into the man who soon became her husband, the late John Richard Place, who was working there undercover for the Pinkerton Agency. Lois and John married on November 24, 1956. After a cold and blustery honeymoon at Niagara Falls they began their life together in Syracuse, NY. In 1962 they bought a house and moved to Baldwinsville, NY with their growing family. The little brick house on Daywood Drive became the home where Lois and John enjoyed the rest of their years together devoted to faith and family, cultivating lifelong friendships, and in service to the local, and wider, community. Lois was a good listener and holder of hearts. She always had time for a cup of coffee and a bit of conversation. Never judgmental, Lois invited others to put their sorrows, joys, or problems on the table and then thoughtfully, wisely provided encouragement and guidance to pick them back up in a way that made one feel understood, uplifted, empowered, at peace. Lois' hugs were genuine and purposeful; her love unconditional. Lois loved children. Although she never worked again outside the home, Lois kept busy loving and raising her own five children, as well as many others, from all walks of life. Lois embraced the children of Hillview Community Baptist Church where she was Christian Education director and an active member from 1962 onward. For decades "Mrs. Place" nurtured the more than 100 children that she babysat before, during, and after school providing care and comfort, crafts and cookies, love and laughter. Lois and John welcomed inner-city children from NYC through the Fresh Air summer program in the '60's and AFS exchange student, Christine Coker, from Australia in 1977, into their home with open arms and open hearts. Lois fed young bodies and souls at Pathfinder Lodge in Cooperstown, NY where she was a cook for two years. And let's not forget the neighborhood kids that liked to play at the house and in her yard … Lois loved all children as her own. Lois and John remained active in their retirement years in the life of Hillview Community Baptist Church, and in the mission field working with Macedonian Ministries and as volunteers at Rainbow Acres in Camp Verde, AZ working with developmentally disabled adults. After John's death in August 2014, Lois moved to Granville, NY where she spent her last years spreading joy and love to her family and friends in and around Granville and at Granville Baptist Church. Lois leaves a legacy of quiet strength, patience and dedication, humble and steadfast faith. She was dearly loved and her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. Lois is survived by her children: Catherine Miskelly (Mark) Benedict of California, Nancy Place (David) Helmick of Florida, Barbara Jean (Nick) Banta of Granville, NY, John Howard Place of Baldwinsville, NY, David Bruce (Sarah) Place of Thailand; her grandchildren Daniel Miskelly, Caitlin Miskelly (Cameron) Scheuplein, and Mary Grace Miskelly all of California, David (Kristin) Helmick of Florida, Dr. Paige Helmick (John) Partridge of Texas, Nicole Banta of New York/Florida, Tyler Banta of California, Jessica Place and Lauren Place of Baldwinsville, NY; three step-grandchildren: Jessica, Megan, and Thomas Benedict: four great-grandchildren Dean and Ian Scheuplein, Austin Partridge, and Aubrey Helmick: her brother's children: James (Barbara) Magee of Troy, NY, Doris Magee Freemantle of North Carolina, Michael (Mary) Magee of Wynantskill, NY, Mary (Dan) Danahy of Troy, NY, and many grand-nieces and nephews. She is also survived by many of John's family who she embraced as her own, including sister-in-law Lois Place Warner of Granville, NY, brother/sister-in-law Donald and Norma Place of Saratoga, NY, and many nieces and nephews. Lois' ashes will be scattered in a private ceremony at the Wooddell Farm in Hartford, NY where she will be "reunited" with her husband John. An Open House reception and Celebration of Life will be held at the family home at 207 Daywood Dr. Baldwinsville, NY on May 19, 2018 beginning at 2:00 p.m. There will be a brief service of remembrance and song at 4:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served throughout the day and will include many of Lois' well-loved recipes. Everyone who knew Lois is welcome to come and celebrate this beautiful life. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials take the form of "paying it forward" in a way that honors how Lois touched your life. Arrangements were entrusted to the Robert M King Funeral Home, 23 Church St. Granville, NY