Alice Ruth Wilkes

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl E. Wilkes, who died in 1994 after 47 years of marriage, and by three sisters and a brother.

Alice was a faithful and loyal member of Maywood Baptist Church in Independence for more than 60 years.

She was proud to be a direct descendant of Hannah Cole, a Pioneer Mother of early Missouri civilization, who settled in Cooper County, in what is now Boonville, in 1808.

She spent her early years and some of her happiest, in the Cooper County town of Bunceton.

Alice was a gentle soul, a trait that drew children to her throughout her life. Granny was kind and patient and always offered a sympathetic ear.

She respected children and treated them as intelligent people. She was dearly loved by her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was a voracious reader and especially loved poetry. But her Bible was the only book constantly at her side.

She was sharp-witted and had a keen sense of humor that sometimes approached gentle sarcasm. She was deft at working The New York Times crossword puzzle. All week.

She soldiered through a life that wasn’t always easy. She rarely complained of the rheumatoid arthritis that kept her in near-constant pain and from which she has now been set free.

Yet she was a fine seamstress, making clothes for her daughter and costumes for her grandchildren.

She leaves four children, Jim (Karen), of Pittsburg, Mo., Ruth McGraw (Mike) of Kansas City, John (Kathy) of Independence and Bill (Dorrine) of Independence; eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Visitation at 1 p.m.; services at 2 p.m. Saturday at Floral Hills; burial at Floral Hills Cemetery. A meal and celebration will follow at John Knox Village Manhattan Room, 1001 Chipman Rd. Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Pallbearers: Lyle Frank, Andy McGraw, Paul Lickteig, John McGraw, Ryan Wilkes and Brennan McGraw.

The family wishes to thank the women of Benton House Shoal Creek and NorthCare Hospice who gave her such loving care.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to City Union Mission or The Salvation Army.

Arr.: Newcomer's Floral Hills, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., KCMO 64133 (816) 353-1218.