Lois Nutwell - Obituary

ois Lorraine Nutwell, 66, a resident of Harwood for more than 28 years and previously of Long Beach, MS, died July 13 at Anne Arundel Medical Center, after a long battle with diabetes and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Born August 5, 1946 in Annapolis, Lois was a graduate of Southern High School. She went to work for the Naval Oceanographic Office in 1965 as a cartographic technician. Her writing and design skills were assets to her in a successful 37-year Federal career that also included positions at the Defense Mapping Agency, National Capital Parks and Planning Commission, and the Secretary of Defense’s Public Affairs Office. She specialized in the production of mapping charts, publications, manuals, brochures, newsletters and posters. Among her career achievements were the design of the Awards and Decorations Booklet for all branches of the U.S. military. After her retirement in May 2001, Lois conducted research and preservation of maps, charts and photographs for her historical book, "A Ripple On The Wind Down The Creek And Along The Shore In Deale, Maryland." She designed and self-published the book, through SunDogs Studio, which has a forward written by Marlin Fitzwater, a Deale resident and former press secretary to Presidents Reagan and Bush. The book was dedicated to her father, Oregon ‘Peck’ Nutwell, a longtime Deale resident. The first 1,000 copies sold out in three months and over 2,500 copies have been sold to date. In 2004, the Four Rivers: The Heritage Area of Annapolis, London Town and South County awarded Lois its Local History Award in recognition of her book. Lois was a charter member and president of the Deale Area Historical Society; a member of the Archaeological Society of Maryland and served as its newsletter editor for two years. She was also a member of Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation’s Women in the Outdoors program, Captain Salem Avery Museum in Shady Side, and St. James’ Parish in Lothian. Lois was a writer, photographer, historian and amateur archaeologist, and was often recognized for her volunteerism and talents. In 2002, she received the Anne Arundel County Trust for Preservation Volunteer of the Year Award for her dedicated work in the field. In 2002 and 2003, Lois received a certificate of appreciation from Historic London Town and Gardens in recognition of her talent, dedication and enthusiasm as a volunteer in their archeology programs. In 2004, she received the Excellence in Volunteerism Merit Award from the Junior League of Annapolis, Inc. She shared her historical expertise as a guest speaker for the Galesville Heritage Society and the Lothian Ruritan Club. Lois was preceded in death by her father, Oregon Nutwell and brother, Steven Nutwell. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Joseph J. Matt III; daughter, Lisa Isenberg of North Beach; mother, Helen Sarah Nutwell of Deale; sister, Wendy Nutwell of Deale; and granddaughter, Taylor Isenberg of North Beach. Friends are invited to Lois’ Life Celebration from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomon Island Rd, Edgewater. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 19, at St. James’ Parish, 5757 Solomons Island Rd, Lothian. Interment at St. James’ Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Deale Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 650, Deale, MD 20751 or the American Diabetes Association, 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 27311. An online guestbook is available at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.