Lois Marjorie Barton

Lois Marjorie Holloway Barton, of rural Eugene, died peacefully in her sleep at home on April 14, 2014, at the age of 96. She leaves a rich heritage of loving and caring for family and beyond. She was much loved in return and cared for as needed during her last years, mainly by family. Lois was born April 1, 1918, in Salem, Ohio, the daughter of Alfred Howard Holloway and Edith Lydia Kirk Holloway. She was the second born of six children, four of whom lived to adulthood.

Lois grew up in a farming family in Ohio, starting elementary school in 1923. Upper grades she attended school in the everglade region south of Miami, Florida (1929-30) where her parents sharecropped a couple of winters, and Olney Friends boarding school, a Quaker high school near Barnesville, Ohio (1931-35) until her graduation. S he shared fond memories of the time in Florida all her life.

After high school graduation, May 1935, Lois moved to Philadelphia where she worked as a mother's helper for 3 years . In 1938 she went to Tunesassa, a Quaker Indian Boarding School in western New York, to work as a substitute teacher. This experience was the inspiration for her book "A Quaker Promise Kept" published in 1990. From 1939-42, she lived with her grandmother in Winona, Ohio, attending Business College and working as a telephone operator. In 1943-44 she attended Schauffler College in Cleveland, Ohio, then did summer volunteer work at Byberry State Mental Hospital in Philadelphia working for the American Friends Service Committee Women's Institutional Service Unit. There she met Harold "Hal" Barton who was doing Alternative Service work for CPS (Civilian Public Service). Lois married Harold Barton March 3, 1945 at Winona, Ohio. After their marriage they lived in Philadelphia, where their first two children were born. After Hal's discharge, in November 1948 they moved to Oregon, Hal's native state.

In February 1951, Hal and Lois moved onto a farm south of Eugene where they raised their family, eventually numbering eight children. Fruit trees, grape vines, a large garden, chickens for eggs, cattle for milk and meat all helped to provide for the large family. Lois lived 62 years in that home. Her home was, for many years, unofficial "bed and breakfast" for neighbor kids and other friends of her children. At times, she was a 4-H leader, president of the neighborhood association, and many other activities involving family, friends, and neighbors.

Lois was a 12th generation Quaker (Friend). Four CPS families came to Eugene the fall Hal and Lois did. On their arrival in Eugene, they discovered a small Quaker fellowship group which met bi-weekly. The group began meeting weekly. Within a few years, Lois was involved in the founding of Eugene Friends Meeting where she was richly and fully involved the rest of her life. She was the last of the founding members. She acted as Clerk and Recording Clerk of the Meeting at times. She greatly enjoyed being a member of the "Women's Group" which met weekly for years. Lois made a difference in so many lives, and was treasured by Friends through the years for her faith, her guidance, loving friendship and her heart of service toward all.

Her desire for "Peace" led to Lois being director of the local Peace Center in Eugene for ten years in the 60's. She was recording secretary for Church Women United for three years, and chosen by them to go to South East Asia (1974) on a month long mission to learn what American church women could do to assist Oriental church women in their work. She was on one of four teams that visited 7 countries in the month long trip, reporting to CWU groups all over Oregon on their return. Other travels took Lois around the US to various places including Alaska and Hawaii. She visited Yucatan to see old Mayan ruins in 2000.

Lois was well known and loved in her extended neighborhood. She was involved in the neighborhood group as a leader and historian. The group recently presented her with a plaque which honors her as "early settler, author, local historian and good friend," renaming the Spencer Butte Neighborhood Park "Lois Barton Park."

Lois had a vital and inquisitive interest in life all around her. She was intrigued by stories, told by early settler Harry Taylor, of the area south of Spencer Butte where the farm is located. These stories were, later, inspiration for Spencer Butte Pioneers published in 1990. Over the years she wrote numerous articles, many for the on-line magazine West by Northwest. She edited the Lane County Historian (a publication of the Lane County Historical Society) for 13 years (1978-81). Between 1978 and 1998 she published the following:

Howard & Edith Holloway Family History, 1978, Spencer Butte Pioneers, 1982, Lane County Historian Index, 1984, Daughter of the Soil, 1985, One Woman's West, 1986, A Quaker Promise Kept, 1990, Historian Index Supplement, 1991, Through My Window, 1997, Grandmother Stories, 1998.

Other interests and activities included painting, drawing, gardening, caring for farm animals, canning and freezing, quilting, braiding rugs, cider and soap making, Reiki training, bird watching and much more.

Lois was preceded in death by husband, Hal (2005); daughter, Edie Self (2008); grandson, Charlie Self (1999); sisters: Carol Holloway, twins Mildred Holloway (infant) and Mabel Ziegler; and brother, Warren Holloway. She is survived by her children: Dave Barton of Eugene; Margaret Ferguson of Eugene; Steve Barton of Cottage Grove; Mary Kirk of Salem, Ohio; Fran Krohn of Woodland, Washington; Bill Barton of McKenzie Bridge; and Rachel Ruckman of Eugene; 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren; and her brother Edgar Holloway of Columbiana, Ohio. Lois will be remembered with love by all who knew her.

A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, May 25, 2014, at 2:00pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1685 W. 13th Ave. Eugene, followed by a potluck reception. All are welcome.

Memorial donations may be made to the Eugene Friends Meeting, Lane County Audubon Society, Lane County Historical Society or United Farm Workers.

Parents:

Alfred Howard Holloway (1889 - 1977)

Edith Lydia Kirk Holloway (1892 - 1986)

Spouse:

Harold Edwin Logan Barton (1916 - 2005)

Children:

Edith Ann Barton Self (1946 - 2008)

Siblings:

Carol Thelma Holloway (1917 - 1927)

Lois Marjorie Holloway Barton (1918 - 2014)

Mabel L. Holloway Ziegler (1919 - 2008)

Mildred Lydia Holloway (1919 - 1920)

Created by: Jan

Record added: Apr 17, 2014

Find A Grave Memorial# 128097961