Lila Frances Stout (1928–2026)
One abiding memory of our wonderful mother, Lila Frances Stout, was her infectious laugh – a characteristic eruption of amusement and delight, which was constantly heard until days before her recent passing at the age of 98.
Our mother, Lila (née Thompson), was born 5th March 1928 in Ukiah, California as her parents, Lila and Frank Thompson, made their way from Vancouver, British Columbia, eventually settling in the Monterey Peninsula. Lila had a long and very full life spanning the 1930s, the Depression, World War II, the Korean War (in which her husband-to-be Cliff served), the boom years of the 1950s and 1960s when she raised her children in the San Francisco Bay area, and the decades since when she and Cliff Stout, her husband of 64 years, relocated to Twain Harte, California, gathering grandchildren and great-grandchildren along the way.
Growing up in Pacific Grove, Lila moved almost once a year as the Thompson family grew. She had many adventures with her life-long friend, Jacquie La Vine Jones, starting in 6th grade and continuing throughout her life. After high school, she studied at Salinas Junior College, and taught ballroom dancing for several years at the Navy Post Graduate School in Monterey.
Lila kept her older brother, four sisters and all our numerous cousins very close her entire life. Lila and her husband, Clifford Roth Stout, Jr, had their own family of four children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all boys. Then a year ago, to her great delight, Lila got to meet her latest great-grandchild – finally, a girl!
The most fulfilling years of our parents’ lives came after they bought a mountain cabin on Twain Harte Lake in 1976, moving permanently to Twain Harte a decade later. As Cliff and Lila’s children grew and scattered in different directions, the Twain Harte home became the center of all family life, overseen by the glowing generosity and hospitality of our mother. The center of Lila’s life was her family; by creating a warm, welcoming home by the lake, she drew her children and grandchildren back to the hearth no matter how far they had wandered.
Lila was an accomplished dancer. She was always dedicated to her community: neighbors, church, and her children’s school groups, as well as her beloved Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. In Sonora, she started a branch of sorority for younger women and for many years served in leadership positions for the Sorority. She and her husband, Cliff were keen dancers and belonged to the square-dancing clubs, The Jokers in San Jose, California during the 1960s, and the Twain Harte Twirlers during the 1990s and 2000s.
Throughout Lila’s long life, the light from her radiated a beauty and a vivacious relish for living. This she shared selflessly with friends, family and community right until the very end, so that Lila Frances Stout leaves an enduring legacy of quiet strength, grace and unshakable love. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Stout, her brother Mervyn Thompson, her sisters, Erline Brownfield, Eleanor Brown, Deede Landers, and Jacky Menezes. Lila had many close friendships over the years, and leaves behind her dearest friend, Bonnie Goodman. She also leaves behind her loving family, Sunny Stout-Rostron (Bryan), Deborah Stout Barnett (Chuck), Randall Stout (Rita), Lynette Stout Campbell (Forrest), her six grandchildren, and her four great-grandchildren.
Lila’s Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, 22nd August at 3 pm at the Twain Harte Tree Farm, 21730, Moore Drive, Twain Harte, California, 95383.
