Mary Lois Keyser Durham, 88, died Feb. 1, 2021 after valiantly fighting to recover from a heart attack late last year. She was born the third of five children Feb. 28,1932 in Slidell, Louisiana to Ruby Leontine Scallon Keyser and Benjamin Emanuel Keyser, Sr.
She was predeceased by her parents, all but her youngest sibling, and her husband of 26 years, Charles Homer Durham, Jr.
She is survived by her brother Robert T. Keyser (Gail) of Fairhope; her son Charles Homer “Chip” Durham, III (Leslie); her daughter Kimberley Addison (Mark) of Cullman; her grandchildren Michael Addison and Laura Addison of Cullman; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She lived much of her life in Mobile, Alabama, where she graduated from Murphy High School. She was married to Charles for 26 years and had two children, Chip and Kim. She was a loving mother and an active participant in her children’s lives serving as a Cub Scout Den Mother, Girl Scout Troop leader, PTA president, and in numerous volunteer positions.
She began her career at the Mobile Press-Register and later worked at the GM&O Railroad. She was skilled and efficient, excelling at office positions at the Little Sisters of the Poor and in admissions at the University of South Alabama Medical Center Emergency Department. She retired from the Alabama Medicaid Agency to spend more time with family.
Upon retiring, she moved to Cullman to be with her grandchildren and to be closer to her son and daughter. She was a fun and enthusiastic “Nana” and shaped her family’s lives with her wisdom and kindness.
In Cullman, she made many new friends, was a member of the Sacred Heart Altar Society and was a founding member of the First Source for Women pregnancy center. She loved knitting with her Stitch & Knit group and knitted countless baby hats for the infants at the hospital nursery and the pregnancy center.
She traveled frequently, both with friends and the Red Hat Society. In her mid-80s she traveled twice to Germany and the Czech Republic to visit her brother.
Lois was a strong, independent, self-reliant woman whose generosity and kindness to others was well known. She was a sharp-witted and gifted problem solver, mastering cross word, jigsaw and Sudoku puzzles with determination and speed. She found humor in every situation, even near the end when the struggles of daily life left her exhausted but still determined. She was a great leader, grandmother, aunt, co-worker, world traveler, storyteller, cook, nurse and best mother anyone could hope to have.
Lois expressed her wishes that no one’s health be placed at risk by her passing; therefore, no visitation will be held. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mobile.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society, Sacred Heart Church Cullman, or to First Source for Women, P.O. Box 1343, Hanceville, Alabama 35077.
