Obituary of Lois Mitchell

MITCHELL, Lois Jane (nee DeGrow)

Peacefully at Heritage Green Nursing Home, Stoney Creek on January 20, 2021 in her eighty-fifth year. 

Born in Blackheath, Ontario on October 21, 1935 to the late John DeGrow and the late R. Vivian White, the youngest of three daughters. 

Lois spent her early years on the family farm before moving to the City of Hamilton in her teens. At this time, her lifelong love of music and singing was nurtured at the side of her church-organist mother as she blossomed into a very beautiful woman.

In 1959, she married H. Lorne Morphy, and they began their life together in Toronto where she worked as a bookkeeper for Bell Canada until Geoffrey and Graeme came along. Her love and attention then turned to raising "the boys" as well as "the woofs" and so began her long love affair with golden retrievers. It wasn't long before she took on her next challenge, joining Simpson's Bridal Services department. Her genuine kindness and helpfulness made a huge impression on staff and customers alike, and she was quickly promoted to manager. In the early 1980’s, she opened her own bridal shop in Oakville.

With her marriage to the late Lorne Andrew Mitchell in 1991, she was reunited with her beloved Binbrook and Blackheath communities. She instantly took to the role of retiree and farmer's wife.  When she wasn't tending her garden or baking pies and shortbread cookies, she began exploring the craft of quilting. She enjoyed the detailed needlework and, like most things she set her mind to, became very good at it very quickly. Before long, her intricate quilts were winning awards. 

An active member of the Binbrook United Church, she used her managerial skills and community connections to organize quilt shows as fundraisers for church maintenance. Whether in the congregation or the choir stalls, her beautiful soprano voice could be heard ringing through the sanctuary most Sundays for many years.

Survived by her sisters Ruth Milne (Bob) and Jeanette Shaver (Jack), her sons L. Geoffrey Morphy (Joanne) and Graeme Morphy (Jacques), her stepchildren Myra James (Rick) and David Mitchell (Andrea), her daughter-in-law Ruth Mitchell, and her grandchildren Julian, Adrian, Brittany, Amber, Becky and Nicole.