Lois Jean (Sutton) Deer, 78, of 1809 Mt. Carmel Rd., Jamestown, passed away quietly on Friday, November 11, from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Lois was born in Kitts Hill, Ohio, near the city of Ironton, to John and Jennie Sutton on September 13, 1933 and raised there with siblings, Vernon, William, Lyndal, Ruth, Isabel, Gary, and Regina. She married Gary Lee Deer, of Hanging Rock, Ohio, in December of 1951 and raised three children, Gary, Jr., Cathy Jean (Wolf), and Gery, all of whom now reside with their respective spouses, Diana, Robert and Barbara, nearby the family farm in Jamestown.
Lois is survived by her husband and children along with 5 grandchildren, Melissa Van Oss, Jessica (Deer) Simmons, Jodi (Van Oss) Pearce, and Tiffany (Wolf) Knapp, Henry Dill, and three great grand children, Emma, Jonah and Eryn. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews, her sister, Regina (Sutton) Marshal, of Riverside, and her sister-in-law, Phyllis (Loper) Sutton, of Ironton.
Over the years Lois and her family lived in Dayton, Fairborn and finally Jamestown, settling there in 1977 where she worked for many years at Curley’s Fine Foods restaurant. Her time was mostly spent raising her children and grandchildren, quilting, gardening and working the family farm and business with Gary.
During the 1990’s, Lois and her family designed and built award-winning parade floats featuring historical scenes from the Jamestown region. Lois was a lifetime member of the Jamestown Area Historical Society and did a great deal to help the early stages of restoration for the Jamestown Opera House.
For the last two years, Lois was cared for at home by her family. Her husband and children express their heartfelt gratitude to niece and cousin, Pamela (Sutton) Suske, who selflessly took on the role of primary caregiver. Her tireless support and personal sacrifices could never be repaid and gave Lois the highest quality of life possible during her long illness.
Services are to be held at Jamestown Presbyterian Church, 61 W Washington St., with visitation 5pm until 8pm, Monday, November 14 and funeral 11:30am, Tuesday, November 15. Graveside services will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, Hussey Rd. in Jefferson Township, just west of Bowersville. In lieu of flowers, the Deer family requests donations in Lois’s name to be made to local Alzheimer’s and dementia advocacy organizations. Cards and letters may be sent c/o Gary Deer 1809 Mt. Carmel Rd., Jamestown.