Thelma Lou Groves

Lou Groves, also known at various times in her life as Lou Myers and Thelma Louola Johnson, passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on Thursday, May 2, 2019. As she wished, she passed away at home, at the Old Hundred elder home on Five Mile Drive in Ithaca, New York. She declined and passed away slowly from Alzheimer’s Disease, peacefully and without pain, thanks to the care of Old Hundred staff, Hospicare, and her family.

Lou was born in Granite, Oklahoma on June 21, 1925. She was the fifth of six children born to Clyde L. Johnson and Mona Hazel (Maynord) Johnson. She was very close to all five of her siblings throughout her life.

She was pre-deceased by her older siblings Edward “Gillis” (Josephine) Johnson, Kathleen Clifton (Richard) Reavis, Houston Gayle (Mary Jo) Johnson, Helen “Jo” Josephine (Jack) Clements. Her younger brother, Clyde L. (Mary) Johnson of Tulsa OK survive her.

While Lou was pre-deceased by her parents and grandparents, most of her siblings, first husband William L Myers, second husband William L Groves, many of her friends, and all of her aunts and uncles, she is survived by many family members.

She is survived by her oldest son, William Lawrence (Nancy) Myers III, and their children and their families:

-Anna (Matthew) Anderson, of Mont Vernon, NH and their children, Kariso Anderson, Taloosh Anderson, Aiden Anderson, Negasi Anderson.

-Blake (Madalina Preda) Myers, Ventura, CA,

-Tessa (Matt McGarry) Myers-McGarry, and their daughter, Aoife Myers-McGarry of Aurora, New York.

-Ayla Myers of NYC.

She is also survived by her younger son, Thomas A. (Krys Cail) Myers and their children and their families:

-Moss J. (Karen Stainbrook) Cail, of Delmar, NY and their children Theodore Stainbrook and Orla Cail, and

-Veda M. (Veronica Bayetti-Flores) Myers of Brooklyn, NY.

And, she is survived by her four step-children and their families:

-Jim (Andrea) Groves of Phoenix AZ

-Paul Groves of Lindenwold, NJ

-John (Martha) Groves of Pittsburgh PA

-Sara (Kelly) Groves-Rupp of Issaquah, WA

A Memorial Service will be held for Lou at Old Hundred (704 Five Mile Dr) and adjoining Tutelo Park on Saturday, May 18 at 3:00 pm. Please park in the Tutelo Park parking lot (151 Bostwick Rd), near the corner of Bostwick Road and Floral Avenue. The memorial service will be held next door, in a tent on the lawn at Old Hundred. Following the one hour service, a picnic with the family will be held in the Pavilion at Tutelo Park, next to the playground. Children, and adults with dementia, are welcome at the picnic, which will last from 4:00-7:00 pm, and include music curated by Lou’s friend Heather Dunbar, wine, beer and soft drinks, and a southern-style BBQ buffet of local and organic foods prepared by Agava and GreenStar. Please come as you are for as long or short a time as you would like to honor Lou and the people who were important to her in her journey through this world.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601, or on line at https://www.alz.org/), which provided much of the support and guidance which allowed Lou’s family caregivers to provide her with the very best supportive environment in her elder years.