Lois Carruthers

Lois Marie Carruthers, 94, died June 10, 2021, in Sterling. She was born July 26, 1926, in Wray to Pete and Precious Brophy.

She grew up on the Brophy ranch south of Holyoke (home of her beloved Brophy melons). After graduating from Wray High School, she married her high school sweetheart, L. Wayne Carruthers, on June 16, 1944.

They moved to Estes Park for a short time. After just six months, they knew they belonged back in the sandhills farming and ranching with family in Holyoke. She spent the rest of her working life performing one of the most challenging but rewarding jobs, supporting and caring for her family, doing the company books, feeding the harvest crew, helping with the cattle, chasing the kids around ... all the things a farmer/rancher wife does.

Lois loved to get together with family and friends for coffee and conversation. Her main hobby was helping and caring for people. She was very active with volunteer work with the local St. Patrick’s church and spent so much time visiting and volunteering at the nursing home that they should have charged her rent. She was awarded the “Touching Others” Angel of the Year award from the Phillips County Sharing & Caring group.

Lois is survived by her sisters, Gene (Brophy) Schelly, Lillian (Brophy) Baucke and Ann (Brophy) Squire; brother, Pete Brophy; sons, Perry and wife Karen of Kimball, Nebraska, and Randy and wife Delna of Sterling; daughter-in-law, Christine Carruthers of Evergreen; nine grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband of 70-plus years, L. Wayne Carruthers; parents, Pete and Precious Brophy; brother, David Brophy; sister, Marion (Brophy) Greenfield; her loving son, Gail; and three grandchildren.

The rosary is scheduled for Wednesday, June 16, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church. The funeral service will be held Thursday, June 17, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Interment will follow at the Holyoke Cemetery.

Baucke Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.