Lois Sands passed away peacefully at Halifax Health Hospice Care Center in the early morning hours of Friday, July 28, 2023. Lois was born on September 9, 1941 at Halifax District Hospital in Daytona Beach. Her parents were the late Sam and Imogene Pruitt originally from Georgia.
She grew up here in Daytona with her 6 brothers and sisters and was known in her early years as "Mousie" by her family and friends. She graduated from the old Mainland High School located in downtown Daytona in 1959.
After graduation she worked as a telephone operator at Southern Bell on Ridgewood Ave. She met her future husband Bill Sands at Mainland High. They were married in 1962 while he was attending U of Fla.
While living with her husband in Gainesville, she continued to work as an operator until their first child, Luann, was born. After leaving Gainesville, they moved back to Daytona while he worked for General Electric.
Together, she and her husband had 2 more children, a son Larry and a daughter Suzann, before moving several times and settling down permanently in Conyers, Georgia where they lived and raised their family and were active at Conyers First Baptist Church.
As their children grew up, Lois worked many years as a Teacher's Aide and a school bus driver for the Rockdale School System.
In the mid 80's after both retired, they moved back home to the Daytona area to take care of aging family members and to be close to family and the old friends they grew up with.
Lois loved cooking and was good at providing food for family gatherings and church functions. She and her husband were active members of the First Baptist Church Daytona, serving as Church Greeters and working at the church thrift store in downtown Daytona. Lois also served at the church in its new location as a member of the Children's Good News Club and on the Member Care Team visiting nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Her faith in the Lord was very strong and helped her greatly as she went through her life battle before leaving to be with Our Lord.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sam & Imogene Pruitt, daughter Alinda Luann Sands, sister and brother-in-law  Mary & Dick Klem, and brother Robert Pruitt.
She is survived by daughter Suzann & husband Todd Marlow, Son Larry Sands & wife Tonya, grandchildren Danielle & husband Phil Stoffel, Lauren & husband Kenny Avant, Luke Kadel and his significant other Ashley and four great-grandchildren, Emmi, Reuel, Pierce, and Boone. She is also survived by brothers Tim, Chuck and Randy and her sister Betty and their families, along with many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins living here and in Georgia.
Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach on Friday, August 4, 2023. Visitation will be at 10:00 AM, the funeral service at 11:00 AM and the graveside service to follow at Daytona Memorial Park.