Obituary
Lois Anne Brassor Blevins
On March 3, 2023, Lois Anne Brassor Blevins, 91, passed away at her home from cancer surrounded by the family she loved.
Lois was born to Francis and Anna Brassor and grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She attended Sidwell Friends, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in Early Childhood Education. A self-described tomboy as a child, Lois joyfully spent her summers on the family farm in Winchester, Virginia, was active in sports and social activities at school, and was always an avid reader. In college she pursued her passion for teaching and served as the President of her sorority Alpha Xi Delta-Beta Eta Chapter.
She married her first husband, William Lybrand, parents of Karen, Steven and Jeff, and raised her family in Northern Virginia. Her love of children and the joy of learning led her to not only being the best mother to her own children, but also back into her chosen career as an educator. Seeing first-hand the positive impact early access to education and socialization made on childhood development, she was a proponent of Head Start in Virginia, and became an activist for full-day kindergarten in the public schools.
Lois pursued her Masters in Education at George Mason University and began the next phase of her career at Mt. Daniel Elementary School, in Falls Church, Virginia where she taught for over 25 years. Here she grew beloved to hundreds of families, many of whom turned down assignments elsewhere so subsequent children would have Mrs. Blevins as their first teacher. So profound was her impact, she was awarded the prestigious Washington Post Agnes Meyer Award Outstanding Teacher Award for her leadership in the profession, mentorship of young teachers in the field, and her devotion to children in the classroom. She remained in touch with former students and their families and student-teachers who never forgot the impact she made on their lives.
An avid bridge player, Lois met her lifelong partner and husband, Bill Blevins, Sr., at a bridge table and the rest was history. He whisked her off her feet and into his plane which started 46 years of marriage, adventures, projects, and lifelong devotion to each other. After retiring from the Falls Church school system, she and Bill moved to Bradenton, Florida where they built a full life in retirement. Lois’s dream to create a native flower garden was realized in time for her 90th birthday and brought her much joy. She and Bill worked tirelessly to build security for their families and her devotion to children, including her special friend Juliana Suarez, was evident to all.
Lois lived her values. She volunteered at the Manatee County Library, the Women’s Resource Center, and was committed to the AAUW Scholarship Fund through managing their Friendly Friday Bridge Game that raised money for girls to attend college to pursue their dreams in life. Playing bridge with her friends was one her greatest enjoyments in life and where she made lifelong friends. She continued her passion for the classroom as a devoted volunteer for over 20 years at Braden Run Elementary School, where teachers and administrators would not let her retire because of her gift for working with the most challenging learners who would have otherwise slipped through the cracks.
Lois is preceded in death by her beloved parents, Frank and Anna, her brother Lawrence, and her step-son Edward. She leaves behind her loving and devoted husband, Bill, children Karen, Steven, Jeff, step-children Bill and his wife Winona, and Bob, and grandchildren Takumi and Marina. In addition she leaves her nieces Joyce Gustafson, Lynda Brassor, and JoAnna Lybrand, and cherished members of her extended Cooper family, as well as members of Bill’s family, Joan and Dave Kritchen, Janet Petrasovits, Betsy Wood and Phil Wood, whom she treasured. She also leaves behind wonderful friends who can’t say enough about the amazing person and dear friend she was, not to mention her outstanding bridge skills and love for the game that brought them all together.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Bradenton Branch, AAUW Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 14099, Bradenton, FL 34208, in Memory of Lois B. Blevins. Donations can also be made to Beta Eta Chapter of the Alpha Xi Delta for Scholarships in Memory of Lois B. Blevins, PO Box 850, Beltsville, MD 20704.
A celebration of her remarkable and heartfelt life will be held at a later date in Florida. Contact: Karen Shimada, karenshimada2015@gmail.com or 503-701-6705 for more information.
Cards and messages for her husband Bill can be sent to: 9610 Braden Run, Bradenton, FL 34202.
Rest in peace. Know that your husband, Bill and children and grandchildren love, treasure and honor you.
You inspire us to be better people in so many ways.
Love,
Jim O.