Lois Mae McJames

Lois M. (Presley) McJames, age 80 of Sanford went to be with her Lord on Saturday March 15, 2024 at Meridian Acres Assisted Living, surrounded by family. Lois was greeted in heaven by her husband, Leonard.

Lois was born in Clare, Michigan on January 12, 1945 to the late Orris and Marian (Noyes) Presley. Lois graduated from Clare High School, which is where she met the love of her life, Leonard McJames. They married on August 10, 1963 at Clare United Methodist Church. Lois and Leonard enjoyed 52 years of love and companionship until his death in 2016.

Lois worked at various Chemical Bank locations as a teller starting shortly after they were married. She took 12 years off starting in 1970 to be a stay-at-home mom to her 3 daughters. Lois resumed work at the Chemical Bank in 1982 and ended her career as an assistant manager, retiring in 2003. One of Lois’s passions in life was playing the organ and piano. She gave piano lessons at her home in the afternoons and evenings to many children in the Sanford area during the years that she stayed home with her kids. Lois also served as the pianist for the children’s choir at the Sanford Methodist church shortly after she and Leonard moved to Sanford. She also was the substitute organist for the congregation and adult choir, played the organ and piano at many weddings and funerals and eventually took over as the full-time organist for church services and as the pianist for the adult choir. After many years of dedicated service, Lois retired from both of these roles in June of 2024. Throughout their marriage, Lois and Leonard were avid Meridian sports fans. Together they attended football, basketball and baseball games. They followed the basketball and football teams to away games in all types of weather. Their dedication to the Meridian sports program was celebrated at a Meridian basketball game in 2014 with a presentation of lifetime passes and bleacher seats.

Lois also enjoyed cooking, baking, and spending time with family. Family gatherings featured great food and at least one dessert. Some of her specialty desserts included, strawberry shortcake, fruit pies, and German chocolate cake. She treasured her role as a grandma and great grandma and enjoyed spending time with grandkids and cheering them on at sporting and school events.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Angela (Tony) Chritz of Midland, Amy (Fred) McNett of Sanford, and Jennifer Butzin of Sanford; grandchildren, Cassidy (Alan) VanNortwick, Meredith (Kegan) Marshall, Olivia Chritz, Breanna Chritz, Rebecca McNett, Alyssa Chritz, Benjamin McNett, Carter Butzin; great grandchildren, Aiden, Landon, and Dawson VanNortwick, and Easton Marshall; siblings, Jacqueline (Jack) Robert and Larry Presley; in-laws Gerald “Jake” (Jane) McJames, Glenn (Bertha) McJames, Florence Merillat, Ellouise (Jeff Johnston), Marilyn (Mark) Bassage, and Carla (Mike) Jones, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Leonard McJames, her sister Judy Sitler, and brother-in-law, Bill Merillat.

Funeral Services for Lois will take place at 11:00 AM on Friday March 21, 2025 at Wilson MILLER Funeral Home, 4210 N. Saginaw Rd., Midland. Pastor Reed Swanson of Sanford United Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will follow in Jerome Township Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 4-7:00 pm and on Friday from 10:00 am until the time of service. Memorials may be offered to Sanford United Methodist Church or Meridian Sports Boosters.