TATUM
Lois Grace Mahnke Tatum was called to her eternal home on August 21, 2022 at the age of 88 years
old. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and sister, and she was a friend to all who knew her and will be greatly missed. She loved her son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren fiercely.
Lois was born on August 20,1934 in Bellville, Texas, to J.D. and Hertha Mahnke. She graduated from Reagan High School in 1952. She had a talent for ceramics and owned her own ceramics shop for several years where she made many lifelong friends. She was the picture of a Christian. Her passion for the Bible and her Lord and Savior were evident to everyone who met her. She loved teaching children about God’s love and grace by teaching Sunday school classes for most of her life. In the summers, she hosted a club for the neighborhood children, which she called “The Ladybug Club”, and she would teach them about the Bible, sing songs, and they would learn cooking skills and crafts. Many times you could find her at the piano playing and singing “Amazing Grace” or “This Little Light of Mine”. Even with all of these talents, “Memaw” was best known for her cooking skills. Everyone who knew her loved her famous Chocolate Cake, her Sock-It-To-Me Cake, and her Dirt Cake (always served in a flower pot with a fake flower!), as well as her tacos, chicken and dumplings, hamburgers, chicken fried steak, and chocolate chip cookies, all of which will never be matched!
She is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Jack Tatum, her parents, and her brother and sister-in-law Royce and Joyce Mahnke. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ricky and Barbara Tatum, her granddaughter Amanda Christmann and husband Greg, grandson Chad Tatum and wife Marina, granddaughter Brianna Jones and husband Craig, grandson Michael Fregia, grandson Ricky Tatum II and wife Elizabeth; her twelve great-grandchildren, Collin, Allison, Connor, Jack, Mollie, Aubri, Hayden, Makenzie, Braxton, Hunter, Gracelynn, and furry great- granddog Herbie. “Aunt Lois” is also survived by several nephews, a niece, and many loving friends and family who affectionately called her Memaw or Aunt Lois.
The viewing will be held on Monday, August 29th, at 10 a.m. at Leal Funeral Home located at 11123 Katy Freeway. The funeral service will immediately follow the viewing at 11 a.m. A Celebration of Life reception will be held after the funeral at the home of Amanda and Greg Christmann.
Graveside service will be on Tuesday, August 30th at 10 a.m. at
Brookside Funeral Home located at
13747 IH-69S.