Lois Irene Martin, 72, of Columbia City, passed away at 6:55 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, at her home. Born May 13, 1943 in Kankakee, Ill., she was the daughter of Elmer and Bernice (Howard) Parrish.
Growing up in Braidwood, Ill., she graduated from Reed Custer High School with the Class of 1961. That winter on Dec. 2, 1961, Lois married the love of her life, Raymond Royce Martin in Joliet, Ill. A few years after the birth of their daughter, Michelle, the family moved to Ft. Wayne and opened Ray’s Truck Wash (Ra-Lo Industries) in 1978 and operated it for 27 years. In 1983, the family moved from Fort Wayne to the farm house on Old Trail Road outside of Columbia City Since 2010, she also worked at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home.
She is survived by her only child and son-in-law: Michelle M. (Ken) Slavicek, Columbia City; grandson: Connor Martin Slavicek; cherished granddaughter: Kennedy Noelle Slavicek; siblings: Donald (Susie) Parrish, Wilmington, Ill.; John (Sandy) Parrish, Diamond, Ill.; Dick (Ginnie) Parrish, Wilmington, Ill.; Bonnie (Bill) Favero; and Barbara (Pat) Duffy, both of Braidwood, Ill.; Bev (Mike) Duffy, Wilmington, Ill.; Mike (Jan) Parrish, Channahon, Ill.; Peggy (Jim) Cole; Linda (Doug) Mandat; Lillie (Steve) Heitke; Donna (Tom) Thompson, all of Braidwood, Ill.; and sister-in-law: Wilba Louise Strong, New Russia, N.Y. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband: Ray, on Nov. 28, 2009.
Visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the funeral home with Pastor Bob Siegrist officiating. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the American Red Cross, Whitley Co. Council on Aging or the Ft. Wayne Children’s Zoo.