Lois Coutts

Driving past Merriwagga on our move to Hillston in January 1982, we noticed a property gate with a sign announcing Greenhills and realised we would need to start remembering these property names.   We also commented that the post-harvest paddocks were neither green nor (to us Gympie-ites) hilly. Little did we know that the owner would be waiting alongside Rita Cashmere for us to arrive at the Uniting Church manse in Hillston.  From the moment we met Lois that day we were made welcome,  greeted with food and cold drinks and an invitation to a meal at Greenhills.  As the years rolled on,  we ate many (too generously proportioned) meals with Lois and her family, welcomed at any time of day or night. One time even after having just dropped her home around midnight after a Griffith Parish Council, when driving past the corner paddock we hit two roos in our little blue Corona!   And, it seemed, because Lois welcomed us, her family welcomed us too.  I don't know if she adopted us as her extra kids, or we adopted her as our second Mum, but when our boys were born, they were welcomed too, All three of our children ended up learning to drive on Greenhills in Trev's old cars, and joined in milking, mustering sheep and wrangling turkeys, checking and cleaning troughs, collecting eggs and much more.  They still consider Lois their third Grandma! Lois taught us much about always having enough love for all others, generous hospitality and genuine welcome, as well as how, no matter what life brings, God is always bigger than anything we face and he will carry us through. We have so many memories of our five years driving past and through the Greenhills gate but they'll have to wait for other times.  Our prayers are for each one of Lois' family as the sadness of her passing feels so raw and painful, as well as for all, who like us, were gathered under her wings and welcomed into her life and the life of her family. We are each one, better for having known her and her Lord and Friend Jesus, David, Janette, Andrew, Stephen and Kristen Ellis

I watched the service for Lois Coutts with my mother, Shirley Campbell (knee Moore) and it was lovely. Andrew's eulogy for Lois was spot on. Much love to all the famliy from Mum and I, j

Farewell to a truly kind, generous and loving woman. May You Rest in Peace Lois.