Lois D. Pyle

The passing of “The Dragon Lady”:

Lois Darlene (Baratta) Pyle, aged 94, entered into God’s Kingdom peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of June 28, 2025, at Lightways Hospice in Joliet, IL. As a member of the Kincaid Illinois High School Marching Band, Lois was a skillful baton twirler, capable of many tricks and flourishes that charmed those who had the opportunity to see her perform. One of them was a young motorcycle daredevil, Gene Dillon Pyle, whom she married on Christmas Eve, 1950. The two spent the next 71 years together, raising three children and rescuing many dogs, often taking their dogs with them as they traveled. A devout Catholic, Lois was active in St. Mary Immaculate in Plainfield, IL, during the years they lived in Plainfield and were busy raising a family; St. Annes in Oswego, IL, soon after retiring from long-haul trucking and lastly at Our Lady of Sorrows in Chandler, OK, where they spent the majority of their retirement years.

Lois was both a Girl Scout Troop Leader and a Cub Scout Den Mother when her children were young. She was a devoted, loving and joyful mother; and the Matriarch of the family where all the women take great pride in having inherited her strong independent spirit, outspokenness, and strength to tackle life’s challenges.

The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts him. I was helped, my heart rejoiced, and I thank him with my song.” – Psalm 28:7

Lois worked for many years at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, attended night school at Joliet Junior College, and rose to the office of Budget Director in the Comptroller Division.

Lois and Gene caught the CB radio craze in the 1980’s and spent the next several decades traveling the country as long-haul truckers. Lois was known far and wide by her handle, “The Dragon Lady.”

They retired to Carney, Oklahoma, where they met and made many wonderful friends and were both active members of the Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Chandler. Lois is re-united in Heaven with her beloved husband Gene Dillon Pyle, her dear son Gary Lee Pyle, her sister Marilyn Hope Brown, and her mother and father Edna Agnes Baratta and John Battista Baratta, respectively. She is survived by her daughters, Darla Gene Placencia and Julitta Marie Gilbert, her grandchildren Nicole, Kali, Kari, and Kristen, as well as many great-grandchildren, all who will greatly miss her.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23