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Memories of Lois 1908-2002
By Celia Elliott, Native
My memories of my cousin, Lois Wilson Murray Zizert, are among the most pleasant of my growing-up days during the Great Depression. When Lois came for a visit with our family on a Saturday afternoon in her 1932 Chevy coupe, I was delighted, as she shared her talents.
Times were hard—it was mend, do without or make do, as the throw-away culture had not yet arrived. Women often re-designed or made-over dresses, because there was no money for new clothing. They showed their creativity and sewing prowess in their wardrobes.
Lois sat down at my mother’s Singer sewing machine and re-styled a velvet dress, which I had outgrown. Like magic I had a new Sunday School outfit with a lace collar. Then when she finished sewing, Lois would play our upright piano and entertain us with a few popular songs of the day—all by ear.
She had attained a teaching degree from the University of Cincinnati and taught a class of first graders at Jane Addams elementary school in west Dayton. The children were poorly clothed and were sometimes sent to school without shoes in winter, but Lois cashed her paycheck and provided footwear for her underprivileged students.
Then and always, Lois was generous and thoughtful, on the side of the underdog.
In another era, in the 1950’s, Lois decided I should accompany her to New York City by train. She loved the theater, so we went right away after our arrival to Rockefeller Center to see the Rockettes and a movie Show Boat. On Broadway we saw Carol Channing in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Ethel Merman in Call Me Madam. She also arranged for us to see some early TV shows, one of which starred Garry Moore. My first introduction to New York City was a wonderful a la Auntie Mame experience.
Then she re-located to Daytona Beach, Florida to care for her aging mother, Catherine Wilson and taught in elementary schools there. But after her mother passed away, Lois returned to Ohio to teach in Centerville and Beavercreek school systems.
A descendant of pioneer families in the area, she was happy to return to her roots when she purchased the Aaron Nutt Cottage, 78 N. Main Street. “I always longed to own one of Centerville’s early stone houses,” she told family and friends.
But as time passed, Lois worried about the future of the stone house, hoping it would be preserved for future generations.
Then on a May evening in 1966, Mayor Paul Hoy and several councilmen, including Richard Miller and Harold Berry, called a meeting at City Hall to discuss forming a Centerville Historical Society. City officials were stunned, after Lois had listened to the possibility of such an organization and made this statement: “If we can form a society, I will donate my house to such an organization.”
Her offer proved the catalyst for founding the Society, helping in its organization and serving as first president.
Late in life she married Floyd Zizert, a Clayton farmer/businessman and moved to that area, but still maintained the cottage here. After his death, Lois spent her remaining years as a resident of St. Leonard’s Retirement Center.
The Society’s acquisition was long in coming, following her death, after she had bequeathed the Aaron Nutt cottage to the organization. Also, her estate underwrote the cost of heating and air-conditioning in the house’s renovation.
Her contribution to the community will long be remembered as the Society now looks forward to celebrating the 40th anniversary of its founding in 2006. Today we can boast of a flourishing organization that promotes and preserves the heritage of the area, thanks to Lois Zizert and other visionaries.
On her 98th birthday, February 4, Lois may be looking down on us, proud that we are utilizing her gift as a research center now and for future generations.
Her wish that the Aaron Nutt Cottage be preserved has come true, aided by many dedicated volunteer laborers and generous financial contributors.
For more about Lois click here |