Dominican Sister Lois Spear dies June 1. She was the editor of the Intermountain Catholic Newspaper from 1982-1986.

ADRIAN, MICHIGAN— Dominican Sister Lois Spear, formerly known as Sister Marie Jude Spear, died June 1, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 88, and in the 63rd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sr. Lois was the editor of the Intermountain Catholic Newspaper in Salt Lake City from 1982-1986.

Sr. Lois was born in Estherville, Iowa to Horace and Katherine Wacht Spear. She graduated from Estherville High School in Estherville, Iowa, and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, Mich., a Master of Arts Degree in History from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in History from Loyola University in Chicago, Ill.

Sr. Lois spent 31 years ministering in education in Rockford and Wilmette, Ill.; West Palm Beach and Miami Shores, Fla.; Detroit, Grosse Pointe Farms and Adrian, Mich.; Cleveland, Ohio; and Raleigh, N. C. She taught at six Congregation schools: Regina High School in Wilmette, Ill., Rosarian Academy in West Palm Beach and Barry College (University) in Miami Shores, both in Florida; Dominican High School in Detroit and Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, both in Michigan; and Hoban Dominican High School in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sr. Lois was Communications Director for one year for the Mercy Sisters in Potomac, Md., three years for the Franciscan Sisters in La Crosse, Wisc., and three years for the Adrian Dominican Sisters. She was also a reporter for The Catholic Mirror in Des Moines, Iowa.

Sr. Lois became a Regina resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 1995.

She is survived by a brother, William Spear of Louisville, Colo.; a sister, Dorothy Theesfeld of Estherville, Iowa; and loving nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Catherine Chapel June 4, 2009. Burial was in the Congregation cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221.