Alice Louise Beck

I would like pay tribute to a wonderful woman that the world is now without: Aunt Alice.

I first met Alice in 1994 when I was cussing out a lawn mower in my front yard. My neighbor Corey (her grandson), was watching me from his living room window and laughing his ass off. I was so embarrassed when I realized I had been cussing a blue streak in front of this elegant older woman. A couple of years later, she began working with me in our office. I had the pleasure of working with her daily for about five years.

Even though Alice never had the chance to get to know her own mother (who died in child birth), Alice seemed a natural at being an incredible mother. She raised five beautiful children largely by herself and with a shoestring budget (yes, Bobby, I know she fed ya’ll cheap ketchup). Her children and grandchildren have grown up to be some of the best people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She instilled in them honesty, morals, generosity, and an incredible work ethic. They are all a whole lot of fun, too.

Alice had the type of home that could pass the white glove test, yet you felt comfy curling up on her sofa. At Christmas she would bake literally hundreds of cookies and give them to those of us who were lucky enough to be on her cookie list. She remembered each person’s favorite and made sure to give a generous portion. Dave and I always counted the cookies we got from her and jokingly kept an inventory of how many the other had eaten. This last Christmas she showed up with two cookie tins, saying that maybe we wouldn’t need to fight over them if we each had our own stash.

Aunt Alice, I will miss you. The Angels are celebrating your arrival!