Lois Gassler

Lois Conard Gassler of Waco passed away December 6 at the age of 94.
A memorial service in her honor will be held Monday, December 10 at 2:00 pm at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church with Reverand Frank Mangum officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, December 9 from 6-8 pm at the home of her daughter Florence. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online Guest Book at www.LakeShoreFuneralHome.com.

Lois Conard Gassler was born in Montevideo, Uruguay where her father, Philip A. Conard, was Continental Secretary of the YMCAs in South America. She graduated from Oberlin College and received her M.S. in social work from Columbia University. She served as a child welfare worker for the Philadelphia Children?s Aid Society prior to her marriage to Dr. Robert K. Gassler in 1944. Following her husband?s active duty in the US Navy and his specialty training in orthopedics, the Gasslers moved to Texarkana before settling in Waco in 1953.

Mrs. Gassler’s community activities included leadership roles in the Pan American Round Table, McLennan County Medical Auxillary, Planned Parenthood, YMCA, and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. She used her Spanish speaking skills to aid in the 1953 tornado relief and in hosting Latin American Family Practice interns. Her hobbies included reading, bridge, crossword puzzles, and collecting Nativities. As the matriarch of her international family, she was a doting aunt and grandmother. Her favorite vacation spot was Montreat, NC where she and her husband hosted family summers for many years.

Mrs. Gassler was preceded in death by her husband in 1998. She is survived by daughter Barbara and her husband Sam Hull of Lake Forest, Ill, son Scott and his wife Vicki of Brussels, Belgium, daughter Florence and her husband Bob Scattergood of Waco, three nieces, four nephews, seven grandchildren, ten great grand children, and 10 great great grand children.

She was pleased to be able to spend her last days with her friends at Lake Shore Estates and her caregivers Wanda Robison and the loving ladies of Phoenix Care. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Doris Miller YMCA, Family Health Center, or Providence Hospice.