Alyce was born in Red Willow County, Nebraska to Andrew E. and Chloe Marie (Johnston) Anderson on January 1, 1925. She attended elementary school in Red Willow County, Nebraska; Yuma County, Colorado; and Cedar Bluffs, Kansas. She attended high school at Decatur County High School, graduating in 1942. Alyce graduated at the top of her class both from elementary school and from high school, and she earned the highest Algebra score in Kansas as a Freshman at DCHS. While in high school, she boarded with a family and served as their nanny, housekeeper, and cook.
On March 21, 1943 Alyce married Roderick Keith Avery in Oberlin, Kansas. During WWII both she and Rod worked in the aviation industry in Kansas City and Hutchison, Kansas. They returned to Oberlin in 1946 where she worked as a homemaker, and then she served as office manager at Decatur County Hospital for 32 years before retiring in 1988.
Alyce was a very active member of the United Church of Oberlin, where she taught Sunday School and worked in the kitchen during special activities. When she retired, she spent many hours in service to the church. She was also a member of Oberlin Chapter 106 of Eastern Star.
Alyce is preceded in death by her parents, her step-father, Jesse Drake, her brother Jimmy E. Anderson, her sisters Amy Rehm and Marylu Brown, and her husband, Rod, who passed on December 27, 1995.
She is survived by two sons, Rolland Avery of Seattle, Washington and Barry Avery and wife Heather of North Granby, Connecticut; one daughter, Rozanne, currently of Oberlin; six grandchildren, Autumn Onna of Woodbridge, Virginia; Morgan Fuller and wife, Chinatsu, of Tanba-shi, Japan; Kevin Avery of Brooklyn, New York; Justin Avery and wife, Aja, of Simsbury, Connecticut; Benjamin Avery and wife, Katie and Raven Avery all of Seattle; Gary and Jody Shike of Oberlin; and Hillary McShea and wife, Abigail Koehlor, of Rochester, New York; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Alyce was known for her good nature and her quick wit. Recently she fell and cracked her head open requiring staples. I asked her if she thought she lost any brains in the process and she replied, “Nope. I didn’t have any left to lose!” When people used to ask her how she was, her answer was normally, “I can’t see; I can’t hear; I can barely walk! Other than that, I’m pretty good!”
A Graveside service will be held May 28, 2019, at the Oberlin City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Give An Hour, Since 2005, Give an Hour has focused on providing free and confidential mental health care to those who serve, our veterans, and their families or Fisher House, Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military and veterans families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital. Memorials may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 Penn Ave, Oberlin, Kansas 67749 . Online condolences may be left at [email protected] Arrangements are being handled by Pauls Funeral Home, Oberlin, Kansas.