Lois O. Stratton, Ph.D. of Provincetown passed away quietly at her home on Thursday, December 29, 2016. She was 86.
Born in Jacksonville, Illinois she was the daughter of the late Herman and Martha (Gallagher) Stratton. After graduating from high school in Massachusetts, Lois received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northwestern University; an A.B. in Psychology and her Physical Therapist certification from Stanford University in California. She also received an M. A. in Psychology from San Francisco State College, did her pre-doctoral study at the University of California Medical Center and earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from Louisiana State University.
Lois was an educator and research scientist. Her specialty was physiological psychology with an emphasis on human learning and attention. She was as a Therapist, working with people with mental health issues at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in New Jersey before retirement.
Lois was extremely accomplished and delightfully quirky at the same time. She had a great sense of humor and loved singing old standards and listening to classical music. She sang with the Grace Notes under Mary Abt at the Provincetown Council on Aging and with Brianna LePage at The Gathering Place in Eastham. As a young woman, Lois competed in statewide tennis matches in Pennsylvania. Lois loved Wales and attended the annual Eisteddfod Choral Competition. She also loved the poetry of Dylan Thomas. Lois had an avid interest in Astrology.
Lois is survived by her brother-in-law, Norman Quinn of London, her niece, Sara Quinn and her partner, Robert Pesel of Hertfordshire, England and their two daughters, Eliza and Georgie-Mae. She is also survived by her cousin Mary Patterson of Boston. Her sister, Deborah Quin predeceased her. She was a cat lover and is survived by her cat, Sammy.
In Provincetown, she is survived by her devoted friends Kitty Cotter, Dian Hamilton and her loving nurse, Terre DeLuisa as well as the many wonderful and dedicated people who cared for her.
Friends and loved ones are invited to gather in Lois’ memory on Monday, January 2nd, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Gately Funeral Home, 94 Harry Kemp Way, Provincetown. At 6:30 pm, a Memorial Service will be held at the Funeral Home with the Reverend Kate Wilkinson officiating. Burial with committal prayers will be in Provincetown Cemetery Tuesday morning, January 3rd at 11:00 am.
Because of Lois’ great love of animals, memorial donations in her name may be made to the Carrie A. Seaman Animal Shelter, PO Box 1374, Provincetown, MA 02657.