Lois Pearl Matney... Age 88

Lois Pearl Matney age 88 of Osawatomie, KS died Tuesday April 13, 2021 at home Vintage Park of Osawatomie.

Lois was born June 14, 1932 in Cleveland, Missouri. She was the eldest child of five born to Mont E. and Pearl Alma (Kern) Lancaster.

Her father worked for Kansas City Southern in Missouri, which moved the family several times in the Kansas City area. Lois attended school in Cleveland, Hickman Mills and Richards all in Missouri. The family then moved to Louisburg, Kansas where she attended high school.

Lois married in 1949 and became the mother of three sons and one daughter. The family moved several times, from Kansas to Oregon then Wyoming and back.  Settling in Osawatomie so her children would have a better start in school, Louisburg did not have Kindergarten but Osawatomie did.

She was a homemaker and stay at home mother for many years, loving every minute of it. She enjoyed taking care of her family, from housekeeping to lawn care and even washing the cars, she did it all, her family was her top priority.

Lois was not a stranger to work outside the home either, after her first marriage she went to work waiting tables for the Y D Café in downtown Osawatomie for fourteen years. She also worked for Gambles Hardware and the Osawatomie State Hospital.

While working at the café she met and married Bobby Gene “Bob” Matney on June 22, 1973 at the Methodist Church in Osawatomie. She and Bob were happily married for forty-one years, she was a woman that loved her family and always took care of them. When Bob became ill she cared for him at home with the help of her son Greg for almost four years, until he needed around the clock nursing. Every day she went to the nursing home to see him, spending hours by his side. Bob died on January 22, 2014.

Lois was a woman that was a joy to be around, funny and witty, someone you just could have a good time with. She could read people and not afraid to tell you how it was, but at the same time tender and loving. If one word would describe her it would have to be “Mother”. Someone who can tell what you’re up to, be firm when she had to, and still make you laugh. Lois has some problems with her health in the later years, but went to live in Vintage Park to be taken care of. Not being able to live alone, she was ready to give up her home and also her care.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one infant daughter in 1950 and one infant step son in 1951, Grandson Eric Wilkins in 2014.

She is survived by her sons: Steven Ray Wilkins of Olathe, KS, Stanley Ross Wilkins and wife Diana of Louisburg, KS and James Greg Wilkins of Osawatomie, KS and one step-son James Lee “Jim” Matney of Tiburon, California.  Two brothers: Norman (Tyla) Lancaster of Alva, OK and James (Nancy) Lancaster of Louisburg, KS, two sisters: Peggy (Rick) Taylor of Apache Pass, AZ and Betty (Pete) Keuser of Overland Park, KS. Five grandchildren: Neil Wilkins, Bridgette Wilkins, Jamie Turpin and Brandie Wilkins. One step granddaughter Jennifer (Chris) Irwin, three great grandchildren and two step great grandchildren.