Lois Price

Long time Verde Valley resident Lois Price, passed away Sunday, June 21, at the Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix . Lois was born in Vanadium, Colorado July 20, 1910 . She would have celebrated her 99th birthday next month. She married Irvin Price in 1932. From this marriage came two children, Marilyn Price Olson and Kenneth Price. As a beloved teacher, she taught students throughout the valley. Starting her teaching career in Sedona at the age of 19, she went on to teach at the two room school house on Oak Creek and then on to Cottonwood High School . She was also elected "Teacher of the Year" by her colleagues. One of her greatest pleasures was when former students would take the time to come and visit her. Lois earned her teaching degree at Arizona Normal School in Flagstaff , now Northern Arizona University . She later completed a Masters Degree from the same school, known as Arizona State College at that time. Doing good things for other people is what Lois loved the most. This not only showed in what she did for her students, but her family, friends, and community. Her love of life, and people, showed in everything she did. After retiring from education, traveling the world was a passion for her. What a great ambassador for the U.S. she was, as she loved to stop and talk with the local people wherever she went. Surely, this gift of conversing and listening to other people made this world a better place. Lois was preceded in death by her husband Irvin, her parents, Nancy and Isaac Hight, her brothers, Melvin, Allen, and Porter Hight, and sisters, Mary Aspaas and Evelyn Crowell. She is survived by her children Marilyn (Glenn) Olson and Ken (Brenda) Price, as well as grandchildren Brian and Brad Olson and Brandon and Katie Price, great grandchildren Ian and Jake Olson and Kaden and Trask Pric e, nephew John (Patty) Hight, and numerous friends and former students. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, and the thousands of people who she taught or knew her as a friend. She made the world a better place for all of us. Services will be Thursday, June 25 in the Westcott Funeral Home at 12 noon. A reception will follow in the funeral home reception room. Join the family and help send Lois on the trip she deserves. Her travels have just begun. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent in her name to: Hospice of the Valley, Surprise PCU, 14066 Waddell Rd. , Surprise, AZ 85379.8736 An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com