LAGUNA WOODS — Ione LaCygne (Coats) Shaw Lovell, 88, wife of the late Robert Calvin Lovell, died peacefully at home on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010 surrounded by her family. Before retiring to Laguna Woods, Ione lived many years in South Pasadena and Glendale, CA, and earlier in Suncook, NH.
She was born in Los Angeles on Dec. 11, 1921, the daughter of Kenneth S. Coats, and Mabel D. (Loberg) Coats. Ione grew up in Highland Park, CA, graduating from Franklin High School.
She found satisfaction for many years working in the travel industry, for many years owning and operating the Exodus/Argosy Travel agency in Glendale. Earlier she managed her own flower shop in Suncook, NH. As a young woman, she worked successfully as a photographers model, and at Lockheed during WWII.
Ione was a longtime member of Lake Avenue Congregational Church, Pasadena, and later Grace Hills Chapel, Laguna Woods. She was for many years president of the Soroptimist International Glendale club. She was a member of the Christian Wheelers club, enjoying the adventure of camping and the club's camaraderie.
In her spare time she enjoyed crocheting, reading, and graciously entertaining friends and neighbors in her home. She loved animals, and the beauty of nature--all strays were nurtured in her home. In earlier times she was active as a young Republican, and continued to enjoy spirited political conversations in later years--often with her grandchildren.
Ione will be remembered as a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to her family and friends around the country--from New England to Wisconsin to California. Ione remains treasured by so many of our related families: the extended Lovell, Coats, Shaw, Cunningham, Torres, Rohrer, and Simcox families.
In addition to her husband Robert, she was predeceased in 1951 by her beloved first husband, Roger Tolles Shaw.
She is survived by her brother, Leighton Coats and wife Joanne; her three children, Robert Shaw and companion Kay McCann of Las Vegas, NV, James Lovell and wife Sheryl of Fountain Valley, CA, John Lovell and wife Allison of Rockport, MA; and four grandchildren, Sean Lovell and wife Duyen, Cameron Lovell, Jessie Lovell, and Robert Lovell; and friend Nobuko Yamanobe, beloved as a daughter.
Shorter copies of this obituary can be found posted at the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register through February.
