Lois Tedhams

Lois Ann Tedhams, 91, of Bradenton, Fl passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. She was born in Greenville, Michigan on June 12, 1933 to the late Ruth and Lawrence Bottum. 

Surviving are her two children; daughter Gale Tedhams (Frank Booth) of Holmes Beach (Anna Maria Island), FL., Steve Tedhams (Vicki) of Pittsboro, Indiana, and granddaughter Lauren Tedhams of Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Lois was preceded in death by her husband Richard also of Bradenton, FL and Houghton Lake, MI.

Lois grew up in St. Louis, Michigan and graduated from St. Louis High School. She worked at Leonard Refineries in Alma, MI and Standard School Company in St. Louis. She and Richard raised their family in St. Louis where they both were active with several community organizations and enjoyed bowling, camping and card playing with friends. An avid reader, Lois was Chairman of the Gratiot Co. Library Board and a volunteer reader of books for the blind for the for Michigan State University Library system. 

Lois was a substitute teacher for St. Louis schools and went back to school in the early 70’s to Central Michigan University (CMU) where she earned a Masters in Business Education and an advanced degree (EdS) in Education. She had a very successful career teaching at CMU until her retirement in 1985. 

She was a woman ahead of her time with her concern for education and social justice, and a role model for her daughter and other young women.

In retirement, Lois, together with Rich, enjoyed travel and cruising. They spent summers at Houghton Lake, MI and winters in Florida. Lois moved to Florida full time in 2015 and became a member of Saints Peter & Paul the Apostles Catholic Church in Bradenton. 

She had a passion for playing bridge, bingo and cataloging our family history through genealogy studies, including trips to England and Scotland to search out ancestral homes. She loved dining out, often eating dessert first (crème brulee and bread pudding especially) and enjoyed chocolate covered cherries!

Lois will be forever missed by her family and many friends. Lois will be especially remembered for her quick wit, contagious smile, and her deeply caring optimism.

A memorial will be planned for a later date in St. Louis, MI. 

Lois had several causes that she supported, and one was special, so she would have appreciated donations be made to the National Scleroderma Foundation at https://national.scleroderma.org.