Lois Atchison, 84, of Cozad, Nebraska, died Friday, May 18th, 2012, at the Cozad Community Hospital.

Lois was born May 29th, 1927, at Cody, Wyoming to Gerald and Florence (Copeland) Norton. She attended school for a short time in Cody, before her family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where she graduated from Lincoln High School. Lois later attended Nebraska Wesleyan College where she attained a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Special Education.

On April 12th, 1949, Lois was united in marriage to Wendell Atchison at Lincoln. Their union was blessed with three children, Donn, Paul and Bill. The couple made their home on the Atchison family farm south of Cozad, which was originally homesteaded by the Atchison family. While in Cozad, Lois taught for the better part of a decade at the Nebraska Diagnostic Resource Center. Lois would eventually come to serve as a resource teacher at the Cozad Public Schools until her eventual retirement in 1985, after a career that spanned 30 years in education. In retirement, Lois and Wendell enjoyed travelling extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Lois never missed an experience.  The couple greatly enjoyed spending winters in Scottsdale, Arizona, which became routine for them to do, for many years.

Lois was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Cozad.  She was also a long-time member of the P.E.O Chapter CO in Cozad.

Lois was an avid bridge player. She was a tremendous cook and also enjoyed baking; her ginger snaps were famous among family and close friends.

Lois could often be found toiling diligently over her cross-stitching and needlepoint; skills that she became quite accomplished at. 

Lois was known to be a positive person; a trait that lent itself well to her roles as a teacher, wife, mother and friend.  In the context of her family, she was always kind and supportive. She was a loving wife and dedicated mother; she will be missed.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Paul in 2001; and a brother-in-law, Lawrence Vaughan.

Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Wendell Atchison of Cozad; two sons, Donn (Cyndi) Atchison of York, Nebraska and Bill (Carmen) Atchison of Cozad; two sisters, Ruth Vaughan of Lincoln, Grace (David) Evans of Ithaca, New York; grandchildren, Casey (Bob) Saeger of Las Vegas, Nevada, Corey (Leanne) Atchison of Longmont, Colorado, Rustin Atchison of Lincoln, Andy (Libby) Atchison of Louisville, Kentucky, Sara (Skip) Hanlon of Omaha, Chad (Alyse) Atchison of Cozad, McKenzie Atchison of Garden City, Kansas, Graham (Cassie) Johnson of Coeur d'Alene Idaho, Ashley (Bryan) Rutan of Ralston; 15 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Bob (Mary Louise) Atchison of Cozad; and many other relatives and friends.

Services will be held on Friday, May 25th, 2012, at 11 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Cozad with Pastor Doug Smith officiating. A private family burial will be held in the Fairview Cemetery prior to the service.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad.

Memorials are suggested to Camp Comeca in Cozad, or to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation in her memory. Condolences may be shared at berrymanfuenralhome.com.

Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad is in charge of arrangements.