Lois Marie Matuszak

Lois Marie Matuszak was born on August 21, 1935 in Morris, Oklahoma to Green Littleton Sandlin and Lucille Rhoades Sandlin (Land). She attended elementary school in Dewar, Oklahoma and in Henryetta, Oklahoma. Her junior high school days were spent in San Pedro, California, and at the age of 15, she graduated from high school in Huntsville, Arkansas. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics in 1955 at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, where she completed a dietetic internship at Central State Hospital and became a registered member of the American Dietetic Association. While attending OU, Lois' college roommate arranged a blind date for her with David Robert Matuszak, a young student earning his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. On January 10, 1953, Lois married David and they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Susan, several years later. After David earned his Masters of Science degree in geology from OU, the family moved to Evanston, Illinois where David earned his PhD in geology at Northwestern University and they celebrated the birth of their daughter Laura. After graduation David accepted a research position at Standard Oil Company (Amoco Production Company, now BP) at the research center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa became home for many years where their third child, Brian Derrick Matuszak, was born and where all three children were raised through high school until David was transferred to Houston, Texas with Amoco Production Company (now BP) in 1987. While living in Tulsa, Lois was involved in many activities and organizations over the years. She was a past president of the Tulsa Geological and Geophysical Auxiliary. Devoted to her family and her community, Lois volunteered for the local PTA, sang in the church choir, gave of her time with the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the Tulsa Opera, the Tulsa Philharmonic, Gilcrease Museum, Girl Scouts, Brownies, and Cub Scouts. She was an officer and speaker for the Highland Park Garden Club. Lois was also a past president for the Tulsa District. Dietetic Association and appeared on local television and radio stations as a dietitian during national nutrition week in the late 1960's. She wrote many articles on nutrition, organized seminars to educate the public on the importance of good nutrition, and was instrumental in establishing the first nutrition awards for the Tulsa Science Fair. Lois organized the Tulsa District Dietitian Association's nutrition library and placed it in the Tulsa Library so that students would have access to current nutritional information. Lois served briefly on the board of directors of the radio station KLOR in Ponca City, Oklahoma and the board of directors of radio station KOKB in Blackwell, Oklahoma. With all of Lois' involvement in the Tulsa community, she crossed paths with several celebrities. She once held the door for Gloria Swanson and danced with Lawrence Welk. She was a background singer for Mel McDaniel on one of his first demo records, Hoss In A Poke and sang at a wedding at the acclaimed University of Houston Chapel. She was active in the Sweet Adelines' Tulsa Chapter #1, the Oklahoma Jubilee, and the Houston Horizon Chorus. Lois' community involvement continued after moving to Houston. She was a member and past program chairman of the Pin Oak Ladies Association, a member of the Amoco Wives, the Genealogy Club, the Katy Christian Club, the Ikebana Society, Hey Lollies Square Dance Club, the Thalia Dance Club, membership chairman of the Balita Dance Club, a Sept Commissioner of the Sandlin-Sandiland Clan Douglas of North America, and involved in the English Speaking Union. She was also a member of the Texas Dietetic Association, the American Dietetic Association, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, and a past president of the Houston Geowives. Lois loved modeling for Geowives fashion shows and also spent several years singing and performing various musical shows with her dear friend Paula Scudday as "The Skylarks of Texas" for many small venues in the Houston area. Her greatest love was for her family, as she was especially proud of the many accomplishments of her children and her grandchildren. Lois Marie Sandlin Matuszak passed away on Monday, November 27, 2017 from cardiac arrest at the age of 82 years, one day after the loss of her beloved and adored son, Brian Derrick Matuszak. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, David Robert Matuszak on November 5, 2008; by her beloved son, Brian Derrick Matuszak on November 26, 2017; by her parents, Green Littleton Sandlin and Lucille Rhoades Sandlin Land; by her sisters, Barbara Ball and Mary Jane Kelly; and by two brothers, Malcolm Ray "Mike" Sandlin and David Sandlin: paternal half brothers and sisters Thelma Inez Barton, Custer Sandlin, Dean Sandlin, Harold Sandlin, Robert Sandlin, and Gladys Venuti. She is survived by her two daughters, Susan Crusey and her husband Jack L. Crusey, Jr. of Centerville, Ohio, and Laura Kantowski and her husband Leo Kantowski of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Adam Crusey of Columbus, Ohio, Thomas Kantowski of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Lisa Kantowski of Houston, Texas, Ryan Matuszak of Katy, Texas, and Lydia Matuszak of Katy, Texas; her brother, Robin Land and his wife Sue Land of Springfield, OR; and many other family members and dear friends. Funeral services will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at the Schmidt Funeral Home Grand Parkway Chapel, in Katy, with Rev. Chris Hopf officiating. Private interment will be held in the Memorial Park Cemetery, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 841125, Dallas, Texas 75284-1125. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233

Lois Marie Matuszak

August 21, 1935 - November 27, 2017