Alice F. Gibson

AN ODE TO ALICE

Alice's entry into this world began on Ground Hogs Day  in 1939, on a farm remotely located in Missouri. She was delivered in a farm house, and then weighed on a chicken scale. After a short period of time, her mother pursued another marriage, leaving Alice with her father, and grandmother. Due to the remoteness of the location, Alice missed a lot of school. Her father gave her a pony, and used it to help her education. He sent Alice out on horseback, to report back the number of cattle. Having completed that task, she was reassigned to count the sheep, and finally the hogs. Throughout her life, Alice was good at numbers. Unfortunately, her father contracted TB from the cattle, so her grandmother constructed a sun porch to combat it, but to no avail. Alice was left without a father at age 5. Grandma did her best, but due to advanced age, she found herself unable to care for Alice, and turned to her son, who lived in Iowa, and was childless. Uncle Charles gladly took Alice to his farm, near Winderset, Iowa, and raised her along with his wife when Alice was a preteen. She graduated from Winterset High School, and was not only an excellent student, but a very good basketball player.  Alice then went to DesMoines, and applied for a job at United Federal. Her interview started by being asked to type some material that was placed in front of the typewriter. She asked if they wanted her to type the misspelled words. What! the interviewer asked, and immediately hired her without further ado. Next, Alice applied to Drake University, and was granted a scholarship, and guess who she met there. Yup, you’re right. The courtship lasted until her future husband received his degree. Then, Bob and Alice were united in marriage at a small church in Winterset Iowa, on June 28, 1958. The pastor was doing some paper work, and asked Alice for her husband’s occupation. She said Pharmacist, and being a rural area, the pastor entered Farmer. Similar to her experience at United Federal, this misspelling was soon corrected.  The new couple then moved to Rockford, Ill., where Alice picked up another good job.  She then moved with her husband to North Carolina, and another good job. In 1960, she welcomed her first child, a boy, named David Brian, a newly minted tarheel. No longer being a Marine Corps wife, she moved to Rochelle Ill., and welcomed a new daughter named Susan Dawn, who is now deceased. Finally, this oddesy travelled to Beloit, Wi., where Daniel James, now deceased, was welcomed in 1963. New friends were made, on and off the bridge table. Alice was very active at the First Baptist Church, and served on many boards and committees. Her artistic and decorating abilities were soon recognized, and she was asked to do some serious decoration at this location. She decorated the santuary, the fellowship room, the activity room, the bridal dressing room, plus a new upstairs bathroom. A visit to this church today, still shows Alice's hand. Finally, on to Woodstock Ill., to help her husband with the new pharmacy. Next door, a hardware store closed, and in went Alice to open a Hallmark Card and Gift Store, named The Thoughtfuless Shop, then opening more businesses in Crystal Lake, and Hanover Park.   A busy girl.  Then, a large bank l  location became available at a shopping center in Rockford Ill. She created a very successful business call Country Accents, plus a bridge jewelry store. Alice was so loved by her employees, that 30 years later, a reunion was held, and every past employee showed up and gave her a big hug. Can you imagine hugging your boss 30 years later?  One of the many stories that came out, concerning her stock boy. He left for a delivery, and left the back gate of the truck open. Somewhere enroute 2 cartons fell off. When he retraced the path, they were gone. He returned to Country Accents crying, and told Alice. She then cried, and hugged him. What a girl!  Alice went on to design our lakefront home, and to open a new location for gifts in Lake Geneva. Alice has another daughter, Nadia from Australia, a dear loving person. On Nadia's last day in the US, Alice loaded her bed with chocolate covered peanut butter, her favorite. Alice never forgot to give and to share with all, she met. There is not room to include all the wonderful statements concerning her life. Here are a few, generous, loving, quintessential hostess, and dear friend to all who knew her. Her's a few more, humble, eloquent, genuine, beautiful stylish, gracious, intelligent, instinctual, instructural, classy, considerate, unconditional, timeless, and believed in everyone.

A Adventurous, sailing the seas

L Lovable

I Intelligent

C Classy

E Entrepreneur

Alice's favorite charities  are The First Baptist Church, Horizon Hospice, or The American Cancer Socity. 

Alice left us on Sunday morning the 25th of October, leaving myself, David, Evan, Nathan, Karrie, and Nadia. I miss her very much, but am warmed by not only family, but our huge legion of friends.

God bless, Bob Gibson

Derrick Funeral Home is honoredmto be serving the Gibson family.  To sign the on-line guest registry click Guest Book

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