Lois Jean Rose McLeod

August 18, 1938 - March 22, 2026

Our mother was born in Murray Kentucky, but moved to Tucson, Arizona very early in her life, as her family needed to find a dryer climate for her sister who was struggling with severe asthma and allergies. Mom met our Dad, who was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, at a Sunday School pool party the summer she graduated from high school. It was then and there a lifetime love affair would begin. Mom married Dad in the Spring of 1957. Their military years would take them many places; from Madrid Spain to Northern Michigan to Southern California and ultimately to Lynn Haven, Florida, where they settled until this very day. Mom had various part time jobs over the years. She was a switchboard operator for South-Western Bell as well as a PBX operator for Ford Motors. Mom, being an excellent seamstress, worked in several sewing shops and retail stores such as TG&Y, Belks, Cloth World, and Material Things.

Our family joined First Baptist Church, Panama City in 1979 and found a wonderful community of fellow believers. Mom poured herself into the preschool ministry, paying special attention to the littlest ones in the nursery. Additionally, Dad would make wooden name plaques for each of the new born babies and Mom would discreetly place them in their diaper bags as gifts. Mom and Dad were such a great couple together, ministering with love to the needs of others.

If anyone ever had the gift of hospitality, it was our mom. She took joy in making special occasions truly special. Mom loved doing things for others, always working ‘behind the scenes’ and never wanting the limelight. She joyfully gave much of her time to the church. Through her many years of service to the Lord, she worked in the church nursery for 50 years, rocking babies was her ministry.

Mom created a warm, loving, and welcoming home for family and others to visit and enjoy. Our family was blessed by holiday table settings worthy of a Southern Living pictorial, beautifully wrapped presents, perfectly adorned evergreens at Christmas time, delicious meals, including her special way to prepare tacos that she learned from her mother’s Hispanic neighbor and friend, growing up in Tucson.

Mom loved…

All things blue and white, songbirds, geraniums, recipe books, dress patterns, fine fabrics, and working in the yard with Dad.

Mom dearly loved…

Our Dad whom she loved working alongside him to build a family; her two children, in which she poured her life into. They both raised us with a love for Christ and respect for all people; and her grandchildren, in which she took great delight in helping to raise and care for. Mom was a great listener and a genuine prayer warrior, even during some of her sickest days she continued to pray for others.

Mom loved most of all…

Her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave His life for her. In her final days she told us she was ready to see Jesus but wished she had more time with us. Today and for eternity she experiences Him face to face and is truly home.

Mom is preceded in death by her father, Lois Rose, her mother, Evelyn Moudy, brother, Charles ‘Buddy’ Rose, sister, Barbara Jones, step-sister, Dorothy Buttrill, and infant son, Michael Ray McLeod.

Mom leaves behind her faithful and loving husband of 68 years, Ray McLeod; two children, Keith McLeod (Lisa) and Karen McQueen (Mark); three grandchildren, Emily McLeod, Taylor McQueen, and Thomas McQueen; five great grandchildren, Anna Grace and Graham McQueen and Addie, Hank, and Hutton Kirby.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the Emerald Coast Hospice care team and wonderful staff at Pruitt Healthcare for their loving care of our mother in her most difficult days.

A family visitation will be Thursday, March 26 from 10-11am at First Baptist Church, Panama City. A Celebration of Life service will immediately follow the visitation at 11am in the sanctuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the preschool ministry of First Baptist Church, Panama City, FL