Lois Jean Sylva Lewis

Lois Jean Sylva Lewis, 69, died Aug. 2, 2012, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

She was born at 9:08 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26, 1943, to Willie Mae Claiborne-Sylva and Albert Stanley Sylva in New Orleans, La.

Lois was fondly known as “Lois Jean” to close family and friends, “Momma” to her children and spiritually adopted children and grandma, great-grandma or “Auntie Lois” to those who loved her.

Lois has nine siblings and their names in order of birth are: Alfred C. “Gooda” Grandison Jr., deceased; Barbara J. “Bobby” Grandison-Pierre; Albert S. “Tom Dooley” Sylva Jr., deceased, (wife Emily); Joyce Lorraine Sylva; Ernest S. Sylva (wife Pamela Ward-Sylva); Donna Marie Sylva-Johnson, deceased; Gwendolyn S. Sylva-Washington (husband Marcel Washington); Tyronne J. Sylva; Cheryl A. Sylva-Washington, deceased; Kevin G. Sylva; and Bridgette Sylva-Vincent.

Lois Jean came to Alaska shortly after graduating from L.B. Landry High School in 1962 at the request of her maternal grandmother, Bessie Young-Hickman.

Her grandmother had asked her sister Sadie M. Ford and brother-in-law Allen Ford Sr. — who had lived in Anchorage since 1952 with another sister, Alma Pointer-Thomas and her daughter Dorothy M. Owens-Hood — to please come get Lois Jean and bring her to Alaska with them so she would have a better life.

They drove to New Orleans picked Lois up and drove her south to north via the Alaska Highway, which her father Albert had helped build when he was in the armed services.

Upon arriving in Anchorage, she became the first African American hired by Sears Roebuck and Co. in Alaska. Lois quickly advanced in the company and obtained the highest position in the accounting department as the head accountant. This was the beginning of her long career as an accountant, and she went on to the Federal Aviation Administration, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage School District and Cook Inlet Native Corp. Finally, she was an entrepreneur from 1994-97 as a daycare owner/provider, which was aptly named Noah’s Ark Childcare and Preschool.

On Feb.1, 1964, Lois was married to Gene Earl Lewis of Henderson, Texas, who was employed by the Alaska Railroad as a laborer. Shortly thereafter, the arrival of their first child, Myrtle “Sonora” Joyce Lewis (husband Andrew Edward Mosby Jr.) arrived. One year and 27 days later, the arrival of their second child, Gene Earl Lewis Jr. (wife Kimberly Ann Lewis) arrived. Then in 1967, the final musketeer showed up with a bang — Kassondra Reneé “Pookie” Lewis, or “The Pook” as family fondly called her, was here in all her glory to make the perfect trio of siblings and best friends of their mother.

Lois was a trendsetter. She made her own patterns by simply looking at an outfit, then going home and drawing it on newspaper, cutting it out and sewing it. She was also the premier knitter for the historically known Knit Shop that was located on the corner of 9th and Gamble. Lois would create and provide uniquely knitted sweaters for sale at the shop during the annual Fur Rendezvous celebration in Anchorage. They were so popular they would sell out in two days.

In January 1970 shortly after purchasing her own home for her and her children, Lois and Gene divorced and remained friendly toward each other until Gene’s passing in December 2000.

As a single parent homeowner and African American woman, she integrated the South Mountain View subdivision where her home became the local Kool-Aid house.

In 1982, Lois’ first grandchild arrived — Michael S. Reed II (fiancée Allison Murray) with the rest of her grandchildren as follows, listed in the order of birth: Warren Lewis, Marcellus Smith II, Andrew Mosby III, Aaliyah Lewis, Ariela Lewis, Sydney Floyd-Mosby, and Jai’Elle Mosby.

Lois had a very special and individual relationship with them all. Then in 2008, Lois’ first great-grandchild was born, Mia Morgan-Lewis, followed by Ava Lewis, who joined the pack in 2011.

Lois was a resident of Anchorage for 44 years; however, in 2006, she moved with her daughter Sonora’s family to a home that was purchased on her behalf in the Mat-Su Valley in the city of Wasilla; where she was a resident for six years for a total of 50 years of Alaska residency.

Preceding her in death were her grandparents; parents; aunts; uncles; and sisters, Donna Marie Sylva-Johnson of New Orleans, La., and Cheryl Ann Sylva-Washington of Anchorage; and brothers, Albert Sylva Jr. of New Orleans, La., and Alfred Grandison Jr. of Los Angeles, Calif.

Lois loved dancing, singing, sewing, knitting, bowling, laughing, playing pool, playing bid whist and was a champion pinochle player. She won several titles and received many trophies. She also loved the outdoors, where she would fish and hunt. But most of all, she loved spending time with her family.

Lois rededicated her life to Christ in 1977, and she shared the word of God to everyone she met, and even gave them their own personalized Bibles. Lois was a dedicated worker for the body of Christ and, as instructed by the word of God, she spread his message everywhere she went.

Lois’ favorite song was “When You Talk About Love” by Patti LaBelle and her favorite line in the song says it all: “When you talk about love, you’re really talking about me!”

Visitation is from 10 a.m. to noon, Aug. 11 at Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E St., Anchorage.

A memorial service is from 2 to 5 p.m. at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 855 E. 20th Ave., Anchorage. A repast will follow in the Shiloh Gym and a celebration of life will follow at the family home, 791 N. Bunker Hill St., Wasilla. Those who would like to participate are welcome.

Interment service is at 2:30 p.m., Aug. 13 at Angelus Memorial Park, 440 East Klatt Road, Anchorage.