Lois Geneva Rouse (Wilson) Buckett, 87

God peacefully guided her home into his loving arms on May 17, 2019, at Kootenai Hospital in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with her family by her side.

When Lois Geneva was born on May 3, 1932, in Chilhowie, Va., her father, James Rouse, was 29 years old and her mother, Maggie (Denny) was 25. She was the fourth child out of eight, with three brothers and four sisters. When she was 10 years old she helped care for her younger sister, Shirley, until she passed away at the age of 2.

Lois was raised in a tobacco farming family. She learned her exceptional values in church, as her father was a Southern Baptist preacher at Grosses Creek, in Chilhowie. She attended Murray Field School from 1st—5th grades and Love’s Mill through 7th grade. She was self-educated.

She left school and began working at age 14, at a sewing factory and later at Southwestern Virginia State Hospital. There she met her first love, James Roy Wilson; he drove the cab that took her to and from work and he co-owned the cab company with his brother, Gene. They married in 1948, when Lois was 16 years old. Between 1950 and 1963, they had five sons and two daughters. They moved to San Francisco in 1955, then returned to Virginia in 1958 before moving again to San Francisco in 1965 and to Petaluma 1966. They divorced in 1974.

Lois began working outside the home in 1973 as a certified nursing assistant and a physical therapist at Crestview Convalescent, in Petaluma, Calif., where she worked for 22 years. The patients and families loved her.

She remarried in 1979, to Robert J. Buckett, of Petaluma. They moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in 1994 upon their retirement. They enjoyed backpacking, hiking, square-dancing and gardening together. Lois Geneva was a wonderful cook, was always barefoot, had a green-thumb (winning a first place ribbon in the fair), and she loved gardening, hiking, Christmas, holidays and family gatherings.

She deeply adored her whole family with unconditional love, especially her special bond with her grandchildren. A calm, wise woman. With her warm Southern hospitality, she made everyone feel welcome the minute they entered her home.

Her chicken ‘n dumplings and fried chicken were the ‘best-in-the-world’ according to her grandsons, Cody, Nick, Jon and JP. She taught great-grandson Dimarco to eat parmesan cheese on corn dogs as a picky-eater and he continues this to this day. She handed-down her excellent cooking skills to her granddaughter, Evangelina Geneva, to carry on. She was Angie’s ‘person’ in life and taught her everything. Her great-granddaughter, Lexi, says that hummingbirds remind her of her grandma and the love she shared with her. Lois was excited to meet her great-granddaughter, Teagan, for the first time recently when she came to visit her in the hospital.

She will be deeply missed by many. We will always cherish and carry your memory in our hearts Mom/Grandma.

Lois Geneva is survived by her husband, Robert J. Buckett of Hayden; her children, James R. Wilson, Jr. of Marion, Va., Robert E. Wilson of Spokane Valley, Wash., David (Debbie) Wilson of Windsor, Calif., Charles (Bernie) of Cotati, Calif., William ‘Howard’ Wilson (DanaJo) of Hauser, Idaho, Barbara J. (Kevin) Garrett of Hauser and Lisa J. (David) Wilson of Santa Rosa, Calif.; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Colene (Walt) Barnett of Chilhowie; and numerous nieces and nephews (too many to list).

She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Maggie Rouse, of Chilhowie; brothers, Oscar, Johnny, and Blaine Rouse, all of Chilhowie; sisters, Lucille Dowell, ‘Connie’ Thelma Blevins and infant sister, Shirley Rouse, all of Chilhowie.

No funeral services will be held per her request.

A celebration of life is planned for Sept. 14, 2019 in Virginia. Memorials may be made to her favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children Hospital.