Lois Elayne Plotz (Thomas) (Deaton), aged 48, died peacefully on January 17, 2016 surrounded by family. Lois was born January 22, 1967 in Emmetsburg, Iowa. She was adopted as a baby by her mother, Janet Thomas, and late father, Henry. Lois grew up with her other adopted siblings, Troy Thomas, Tammy Tope, and Gerald Thomas, who survive her. Lois loved the outdoors. She loved being in the sun and swimming. She spent time gardening when she could. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family. Perhaps, her biggest love of all was children. After graduating from Ames High School, she had her first daughter, Deserae Jennings (age 29), and later, Valerie Deaton (age 26). Lois married Kyle Deaton in 1987 and decided to forego her career to be a mother and wife. Together, Lois and Kyle built their first home in Story City, Iowa. When Lois was 21, she was diagnosed with Lupus and other disease processes. Despite several hospital visits and stays, she continued to care for her family. She later moved from the Ames area to Cedar Rapids where she worked as a daycare teacher, as no surprise, while she and Kyle built their second home. Those who knew her described her as "a happy and amazing person who made everyone laugh." She took classes to further her childhood development education at Kirkwood Community College. She and Kyle went their separate ways toward the end of her stint as a daycare teacher, in 2012. She soon met Dave Plotz and they hit it off. Unfortunately, after several complications with lupus, she became unable to work. She focused her efforts on getting well. However, Lois recently suffered complications from a failing liver and body. Lois married Dave on January 9, 2016. She was in high spirits and continued to make everyone laugh and smile up until the day she left this world. She is remembered and loved by many. She was the life of every party. She was stubborn, beautiful, funny, loving, and free-spirited. Though her diseases took her body, her job, her education, and her ambitions, it could never take her spirit. It is with this same tenacity that those she leaves behind will remember her. Lois is also survived by her grandson Jasper Jennings, her stepson, Dustin Deaton, her grandson Jaxsyn Deaton, her stepdaughter, Lindsey Newberg, her granddaughter, Candra Newberg, as well as a wealth of extended family and close friends. Lois will be cremated and a service will be held in Belle Plaine, IA. Visitation will be at 1pm with service beginning at 2pm at Hrabak Funeral Home .After the services there will be a luncheon at the Belle Plaine Community Center at 1207 8th Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be donated online through the gofundme website. Please email dljenn@iastate.edu for a link.