LOIS SCOTT (GOW)
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Lois was born in Wallaceburg, the 3rd oldest to Glen and Marie Scott, and raised along the scenic “Big River” in Sombra with her 5 sisters. As a youngster, she enjoyed playing baseball, volleyball and soccer along with skating and watching hockey in the winter season. She attended Riverview Central School in Port Lambton and went to high school at WDSS.
Lois was introduced to Chatham in 1979 when she attended St. Clair College to learn the skills of what has become a life career as a Developmental Service Worker, supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. With a compassionate and understanding heart, Lois has spent the last 30 years providing support to many, for the last 22 years working at Community Living Chatham-Kent. As well, for many years now, she has participated in the ‘’Special Services as Home’ Program providing respite support for families caring for a developmentally disabled loved one.
In her college graduation year, she met Harold Gow and they were married a year later in 1982. Her first son Chris was born in 1983 followed by Jeff in 1985.
Volunteering has been a passion for Lois throughout her life, devoting time as a Sunday School teacher, Beaver leader and at countless sporting events involving her two boys in school leagues, city house leagues, and travel teams. The Wallaceburg Legion has recently benefited from Lois’s generous spirit as she has assisted with many of their events.
Lois’s connection with the Chatham Junior Maroons began during the latter part of the 85-56 hockey season. Harold and Lois started to attend the Maroon games with his Maple City Laundry employer, Roy and Della Bruhlman, who, along with Roy’s brother Hank, were co-owners of the Maroons. Harold was delighted to assist team trainer Stu Fletcher whenever co-trainer Lorne Saunders was unable to attend a game. The following year Harold was put on a ‘card’ so he could be on the bench when needed….and so it began.
She was first spotted selling 50/50 tickets with Helen Bruhlman. You could always find Lois at the arena early, faithfully doing prep work for the game. Lois started to volunteer at the bingos, which she continued to do for many years. From ’87-’89, Lois became a “Hockey Mom” as she billeted Maroon players.
Every team needs the support of fans, so Lois dedicated herself to working with the booster club throughout the Bruhlman and MacFarlane eras. As president of the club under the MacFarlane’s, she took care of arranging volunteers, fundraising through souvenir sales and car washes, and organizing fan buses during the playoffs. Her willingness to assist wherever needed spanned the Coristine years and into one season with the Prymack ownership. As her own sons’ sport activities now saw her traveling from football to soccer to baseball fields in the summer and rinks and gyms in the winter, Lois needed to step away from her work with the team.
Harold was asked to return to the team in ’97-98 season when it was owned by the Torrie family and with no surprise, Lois was right there helping out where needed. Following Harold’s death in 2002 she continued to volunteer and when the Heritage Sports Group became the team owners, she began to work in the box office and organized the volunteers for the charity bingos as well as taking care of all the sewing and repairs of the jerseys. She continued this under the ownership of the Keenan family and continues all of these at the present time. In 2010-11 Lois was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for the Western Ontario Conference of the GOHL for her dedicated efforts in making the Maroons a great club to play for.
It was at a Maroon’s hockey game that Lois was reacquainted with her past friend Dan Young, and now their family together has grown to include Lois’s sons Chris and Jeff, his wife Megan and their precious daughter Cassie; Dan’s daughter Carrie and her husband Shawn and their sons Noah and Casey.
Lois is very appreciative of the various opportunities she has been given, and wishes to thank everyone past and present who has made her a part of the Maroon family.