Stafford, Lois Harless

Lois Harless Stafford, 76, of Fairlawn, entered her new eternal home on Friday, February 17, 2012, and was told by her Savior “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” She was born in Giles County, Virginia on July 2, 1935 to the late Clarence and Hazel Weiss Harless. She was also preceded in death by four brothers; Cecil Harless, James Harless, Douglas “Mac” Harless, and Marshall Harless. She was employed by Klopman Mills in Dublin for many years and also worked at First Virginia Bank/BB&T in Radford until her retirement. She was an Avon sales representative for many years and enjoyed serving her customers. She was a long-time and active member of Fairlawn United Methodist Church. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. After being faced with a difficult diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, she lived each day to the fullest with courage, faith, and hope. Throughout her journey, she was blessed by the love and support of her family; her friends; her church family; Dr. Harry McCoy and the nurses of Blue Ridge Cancer Care in Christiansburg; a special caregiver, Mary Ann Harris of Comfort Care Senior Homes in Blacksburg; and countless others. Amazing, strong, courageous, determined, loving, spunky, intelligent, wise – no amount of words can describe who she was and how she influenced the lives of family, friends, and strangers. She put her family first, even above herself and she lived her faith every day. She was a counselor to many and you knew not to ask for her opinion unless you really wanted to hear it. She loved animals, flowers, and children, and she loved being outside and working in her yard. She dearly loved and cherished her grandson Nicholas, who was the light of her life. She will be with us forever and we look forward to seeing her again in Heaven. She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Donald Stafford; daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia Stafford Counavelis and Tom Counavelis, of Raleigh, NC; son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Kim Stafford, of Dublin; grandson Nicholas Counavelis, of Raleigh, NC; brother and sister-in-law, William (Bill) and Betty Harless, of Pearisburg; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty H. and James Roberts, of Pearisburg, Patsy H. and Bob Bruce, of Christiansburg, and Diane H. and Scotty Fewell, of Dublin; three sisters-in law, Charlotte Harless, of Williston, SC, Helen Harless, of Radford, and Patty Harless, of Pulaski; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Frances Stafford Bowling, of Roanoke, Charlotte Stafford Sartin, of Rich Creek, and Buford Steele, of Newport; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and dear friends. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 20, 2012 from 5 pm until 7 pm at the Fairlawn United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held following the visitation at 7 pm with Rev. Bobby Lorton and Rev. Don Shelor officiating. Graveside services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fairlawn United Methodist Church, Roof Fund, 7584 Brandon Road, Fairlawn, VA 24141. The Stafford family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford.