Lois Ann Gandy

She was born April 25,1935 in Crosby County, TX to Charlie and Edna Edwards. The 2nd child of nine siblings, she graduated from Ralls High School in Ralls, Texas in 1953. She grew up in the “patches.” The cotton patches around Lubbock and Ralls, Texas and the oil patch around Odessa and Crane, Tx. She married Travis Ray “Paw paw” Gandy in 1973. Lois graduated from Aladin Beauty College in Odessa in 1968 with an associate’s degree in cosmetology and worked as a hairdresser for 25+ years, giving all her grands their first haircut and style.

She was creative. An accomplished artist, seamstress, doll maker and upholsterer. At Christmas the entire Moore, Edwards, and Gandy families hoped that Aunt Lois had drawn their name so that they could get one of her creations under the tree. There was nothing she couldn’t do or create, from drapes and cornices for your first house, kennels for her dogs, to Raggedy Anne/Andy dolls for her nieces and nephews.

She was biblically wise. There’s an old saying that you can tell everything you need to know about a person by looking at their check book and their bible. Maw maw’s check book was full of entries to her church, and several other ministry’s that all had a common theme, pointing others to Jesus. Her bible looked like the bible of a doctoral seminary student with notes and highlights in every margin and page. She knew every dot and tittle that the Lord’s word had to offer, and we all took pity on her pastor’s, Sunday school teachers, and bible fellowship group leaders if they made an error in theology, she was going to tell them “How the cow ate the cabbage.” The word “shy” was not in her vocabulary and she was never ”wrong.”

She was tough. Life knocked her down several times from divorce (with 3 small children to feed), the sudden death of her beloved Ray (“Paw paw”), heart attacks, bi-passes, broken bones, and brain injuries but she always got back up, dusted herself off and believed that God would provide. She taught us all the power of the Holy Spirit and that He had us in his hands and that our victory had already been won on the cross.

She was faithful. Serving the Lord at The Full Gospel Covenant Church (formerly West 10th Street Baptist Church, and West 10th Street Full Gospel Baptist Church) in Odessa Texas for almost 60 years.

Lois is preceded in death by her husband Ray, her parents, Charlie, and Edna Edwards, three brothers, David Edwards, Stanley Edwards, and Jess Edwards, and one sister, Sue Post. She is survived by her daughter Kathy Moore-Light of Lubbock, her son Darrell Moore and his wife Sharla of Lubbock, her son Bryan Moore and his wife Teri of McKinney, Texas, Her grandchildren Jennifer Davis of Lavon Texas, Shelby Light of Ft. Worth, Texas, Ashlee Stephens and her husband Taylor, of Lubbock, Texas, Mattie Lujan and her Husband Javy of Lubbock, Texas, Christopher Moore and his wife Amanda of Wylie, Texas, Micah, Moore and his wife Andi of Savoy, Texas, Megan Rueda and her husband Jorge of Mckinney, Texas, and Bekah Rivera and her husband Jeremy of McKinney Texas. Her great grandchildren, Landyn, Kellan, Kameron, Kenzie, Colt, Angel, Destiny, Laila, Everly, Rhett, Ryder, Callen, Quinn, and Eli. She is also survived by her remaining siblings: Arvil Edwards and his wife Robbie of Stephenville, Texas, Cecil Edwards and his wife Anne of Odessa, Texas, Troy Edwards of Shallowater, Texas, and John Edwards and his wife Ann of Stephenville, Texas along with numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Lois’ life will be at 2:30 pm, Saturday, January 18th, 2025, at The Full Gospel Covenant Church, 7500 W 10th Street, Odessa, TX 79763. Instead of flowers the family would like to request donations be made to her church.

link: www.fgccodessa.com.