Gwendolyn Loe

Gwendolyn Blalock Loe of Mesquite, Texas passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 5, 2024. Gwen had just celebrated her 84th birthday on Friday, May 3, 2024. Her physical health had declined rapidly over the past 6 months.

Gwen grew up in Quitman, Louisiana, attended grades 1-12 and was graduated from Quitman High School in 1958. During her teen years she was enrolled in the Bible Memory Association program. She participated in this program for 5 years. From those memory sessions came one of her favorite verses remembered, 1 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. She played the piano at her church, Quitman Baptist and other churches in the area. She entered Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana in September 1958.

While at the university she participated in the Freshman Glee Club; Tech Choir, Baptist Student Union; Theta Beta; & Sigma Alpha Eta. She was also a summer missionary, sponsored by the Baptist Student Union to an Indian group in Northern Arizonia. She was graduated with a BA degree in Speech and Hearing Therapy and a minor in Lower Elementary Education.

For the first year after being graduated from college she was the Speech Therapist for the Jackson Parish School System. She and the love of her life, Bob Loe were married August 1, 1964, and they moved to Shreveport, Louisiana. She then worked with Speech and Hearing Impaired students in the Caddo Parish School System. She also taught in the regular teaching classroom. At the birth of her daughter, Stephanie Irene Loe, Gwen chose to become a full-time, stay at home Mom. When Stephanie entered school , Gwen began to teach again, for several years; Grawood Christan School and South Side Baptist School. She returned to the Caddo School System for a brief time but returned again as a stay at home mom.

While in their 25 years in Shreveport, Gwen and Bob ministered at a nursing home - the Guest House - for 13 years. She played the piano and sang for those who attended the Bible study class. They also made a medical missionary trip that included her sister, Carolyn Moore, to Cordoba, Mexico in 1970. It was a trip that brought her to understand she needed to be mission minded at home and around the world because people everywhere have the same issues of life, and their greatest need is a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1990 Gwen, Stephanie and Bob moved to Mesquite, Texas. Gwen was very active in Inspiration Church (Mimosa Lane Baptist) teaching a Women's Sunday school class (Caregiver's) for over 25 years. She loved playing the piano and singing of old Hymns.

Frequently over the final months of her life, she said, "I am going home." We are grateful to the Lord that He chose to call her home on Sunday that has spared her some very difficult issues that were on the horizon.

Left behind to cherish many memories of Gwen and her life is her husband of 59+ years, Bob Loe, daughter Stephanie Loe, sister and her husband, Carolyn and Kerry Moore; brother-in-law and wife, Joe and Mikelene Loe; Sister-in-law and husband, Nancy and Ron Rogala; sister-in-law Joan and husband Bob Moore. Gwen also leaves behind many special nieces and nephews, as well as 3 special cousins who grew up next door in Quitman, LA. They were more like sisters to her and Carolyn; Nancy Edmiston, Judy Brown and Jeanne Fain. Gwen was preceded in death by her parents, R.B. and Gladys Blalock and 2 infant brothers.

We express our gratitude to the entire staff of Alinea Family Hospice Care for meeting the needs of our family and the wonderful care given to Gwen during the 6 months she was under their care. We especially thank her nurse, Tamika and personal aid, Coco, as well as others for their loving and gentle care given to Gwen, Stephanie and Bob.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to The Mexican Indian Training Center, Shreveport, LA, or The Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, Monroe, LA, or The Texas Baptist Men, Dallas, TX.