Lois Irene Sprowls, 93, Wellington resident for over 60 years, died Saturday, September 13, 2008, while a patient in an Albuquerque, NM, hospital where she had undergone hip-replacement surgery. She died on her 93rd birthday.

She was born to George E. and Alta Ferguson at Blackwell, OK, on September 13, 1915 and attended schools in Blackwell and Wellington. She was a member of the First Christian Church, Wellington.

Mrs. Sprowls was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 40 years, Ernest J. Sprowls, in 1985; a young son, George Max Hudson; a brother, Dale E. Ferguson; and a grandson, Curtis Bendorf.

Survivors include sons James F. Hudson and wife JoLe, Halstead; Joe Sprowls and wife, Teresa, Arkansas City; daughter Carolyn Lee Kidd, Albuquerque; brothers J. A. "Pat" Ferguson and wife, Neva, Wellington; Jack D. Ferguson, Fieldbrook, CA, and Rodney D. Ferguson of Wellington.

Other survivors include eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, two nephews, four nieces, and numerous great and great-great nephews and nieces.

Mrs. Sprowls and her husband were avid fishermen and spent many summer weekends with their school-age children, camping out on Ninnescah River sandbars and enjoying the good fishing the river offered.

Having grown up during the Great Depression years, she appreciated the value of a dollar and, accordingly, prided herself in being as self-sufficient as possible which resulted in her enjoying any number of jobs over the years.

She was one of the true "Rosie the Riveters" having worked for the Coleman Company on a defense-product line during World War II. In addition, she was an accomplished seamstress and for a number of years, in the 1950s and 1960s, was a popular clerk at two of Wellington's mens clothing stores. She also was a seamstress at the old Wellington furniture factory and later held several successful direct sales positions.

Upon her husband's retirement from the railroad as a Santa Fe Railway conductor, the couple for many years enjoyed summer months as caretakers of a privately owned lake at Humansville, MO.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. at Frank Funeral Home in Wellington. Interment will follow the service at Sumner Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 from 1:00 – 9:00 P.M. The family will be present to greet friends from 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.

A memorial has been established with the Alzheimer's Association.

Frank Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.