Loy V. Wehmeier, nee Tidwell, 88, of Millstadt, Illinois, died February 16, 2025 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Illinois.
Loy was born October 26, 1936 in Grand Valley, Colorado and attended 8 different schools in almost as many states. When she was 14 years old her family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois and she graduated from East St. Louis Senior High School in 1954, after which she was employed by the Monsanto Chemical Company, St. Louis, Missouri.
On February 16, 1957 Loy married her beloved husband, Clyde Wehmeier, at Winstanley Baptist Church in East St. Louis. To their marriage was born a daughter Tierney, and sons Ronald and Eric.
In 1983 Loy was employed by Parks Air College, Cahokia, Illinois. She enjoyed her time at Parks and cherished the lifelong friendships she made with many students, whom she took under her wing. After 15 years at Parks, she transferred to St. Louis University, retiring in 2002.
Loy was a member of the Red Hat Society and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Her patriot relative was Edmond Tidwell Sr., a revolutionary war soldier of South Carolina under the command of Lt. John Hollis.
Loy volunteered 36 years at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and World Heritage Site; the first 15 years spent doing Monks Mound tours on Sundays, and thereafter when the new museum opened, she worked as a greeter and at the information desk. She loved meeting people from different parts of the USA and the world. One of her favorite times each year at the Mounds was Kids Day and painting their faces.
After Loy retired, she and Clyde became avid adventurers traveling the backroads of the USA. They never planned a travel itinerary; they just headed in a direction and discovered where it took them. They visited 48 states; never made it to Alaska or Minnesota. They also traveled to both the West and East coasts of Canada, the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and journeyed across the pond to England where Loy achieved her wish of seeing the White Cliffs of Dover.
Their favorite place in the world was their home. They loved feeding and watching the hummingbirds, taking care of their beautiful flower beds, sitting on their back porch at night star and moon gazing, sharing each day and night with each other and gathering around the dining room table when their children came home to visit.
After the death of her husband Clyde, Loy kept active each week, working in her yard and flower beds, weather permitting. She loved listening to the birds and talking to the worms. Loy also met up with her friends in Millstadt on Mondays and Fridays for chair yoga, and in Swansea on Mondays and Wednesdays for Tai Chi. She enjoyed interacting with her friends and exercising her body and mind.
Loy was preceded in death by her:
- Beloved son, Ronald
- Beloved mother, Juanita
- Beloved daughter, Tierney
- Beloved husband, Clyde
Surviving are her:
- Son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Lisa Wehmeier
- Brother and sister-in-law, Chuck and Chris Tidwell
- Brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and JoAnn Wehmeier
- Special nieces, Teresa Tidwell and Stephanie West
- Much loved, lifelong friends
For those who wish, a memorial donation will be made in Loy’s memory to the Ronald McDonald House.
Visitation will be 4:30 to 6:00 pm Thursday, March 6, 2025 at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville, Illinois. The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation with Pastor Doug Hargrave officiating.
A graveside service will be held 10:30 am Friday, March 7, 2025 at Valhalla Gardens of Memory. Loy’s wishes were to be cremated and her ashes to be buried next to her son Ronald, daughter Tierney and husband Clyde.
