ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. 

Obituary for: VOLLERTSEN, LOYS MARIE HOWELL 

Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. 

Source: Honaker Funeral Home, Slidell, La.

Died Thursday, February 23, 2012

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VOLLERTSEN, LOYS MARIE HOWELL 
(August 9, 1924 - February 23, 2012)

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Loys Marie Howell Vollertsen, longtime resident of Slidell, Louisiana, passed 
away Thursday February 23, 2012 after a short illness. 

Loys and her twin brother Pete were born August 9, 1924 in Seminole, Oklahoma 
to Austin and Lily Howell. 
Loys' beginnings were primitive, as her father was a roughneck in the wild oil 
fields of the 1920's oil boom in Oklahoma. He moved from oil field to oil 
field, working primarily for both the Phillips and Magnolia oil companies. 
Consequently Loys received her education in schools all over the southeastern 
part of the state. Her mother cooked on a wood burning stove, made her own 
soap, sewed her children’s clothing, and chopped enough wood once a year to 
last through the winter. 
Loys graduated from high school in Wapanucka, Oklahoma in 1941 having earned 
high marks in her class work while catching for the girls softball team and 
excelling as an all state basketball player her senior year. 
Following high school, Loys worked at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City where 
she learned of a more refined existence as exhibited by the patrons of that 
world famous hotel. Because she was smart and read constantly, Loys soon 
learned where the knife, spoon, and fork went in a proper table setting, and 
that all food wasn't fried. It was the beginning of her legendary family 
reputation as both party hostess and gourmet cook. 
When World War II began, Loys moved to California to work in the defense 
industry. At a USO dance in Los Angeles, she met a young sailor and former 
Nebraska farm boy named Russell Armin Vollertsen. Like so many young couples 
during that uncertain time, they married before he shipped out and began a 33-
year Navy career that was a partnership in every sense of the word. 
Loys loved the Navy and the Navy way of life. She had a knack for making even 
the most humble house into a home for Russ and their four sons. She was a 
wonderful mother and loved and supported her children in all their endeavors. 
The two years they lived in Japan while Russ was serving in Viet Nam were 
especially meaningful to her. She worked as a Nurse’s Aide at a military 
hospital that treated young soldiers who were suffering burn wounds. Years 
later she still spoke of the heroism and spirit of her young patients and the 
effect they had on her life. 
When Russell retired from the US Navy in 1975, they settled in Slidell, 
Louisiana where he began a second career as manager of the NASA computer 
center. 
Loys combined her extensive knowledge of antiques with her mother’s knack for 
starting a small business and opened the first antique store in Old Town. Soon 
“The Antique Store” was a shopping landmark. Miss Loys became well respected as 
an antique expert. She served as an advisor and appraiser for international 
firms such as Christies and a university lecturer. 
By the time Loys sold “The Antique Store” over twenty years later her efforts 
had revitalized the Old Town area. It now has several antique shops and 
boutiques and holds an annual antique festival that packs the narrow streets. 
Loys and Russ loved traveling and toured the world, but they also enjoyed 
seeing America in their motor home. 

Loys is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Russell of Slidell, and 
their four children: Conrad and Pam Vollertsen of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; 
Vernon and Nancy Vollertsen of Edmond, Oklahoma; Bruce and Tonya Vollertsen of 
The Woodlands, Texas; and Jon and Geri Vollertsen of Gilroy, California. 
Brother Bill Howell of Calvin, OK and sister Gertrude Howell of Muskogee, OK. 
Grandchildren: Jennifer Greenfield, Sarah Jordan, Dane Vollertsen, Rode 
Vollertsen, Zach Vollertsen, and Mark Vollertsen; numerous great grandchildren 
and many nieces and nephews. 

Loys was a friend to all, and would talk to anyone on any level. She was big-
hearted and generous to a fault. She wound up a long way from the dusty roads 
of her early life, saw much, and accomplished much more. We love and miss her. 

A viewing will be Monday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm followed by a memorial 
service at Honaker Funeral Home in Slidell. 
Graveside services will be at Rosewood Cemetery in Palmyra, NE at 11:00 am on 
Saturday Mar 3.

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