Alice Smith

Funeral services will be Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 10:30 am at the United Church of Christ in Thedford, NE with Pastor Les Parmenter officiating. A light lunch will follow, and burial will then be at the Brownlee Cemetery at Brownlee, NE. A visitation will be held Tuesday morning from 9:00 to service time at the United Church of Christ. Govier Brothers Mortuary of Mullen are in charge of arrangements. Words of encouragement may be left at www.govierbrothers.com

Alice Faye Smith, 80, of Brownlee, Nebraska passed away on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. She was a devoted wife, caring mother, and grandmother, and will be dearly missed. 

Alice was born on June 29, 1943, to parents Edward Mathauser and Maggie Mathauser (Shubert) in Dunning, NE, where she grew up with her brother and sisters. Alice married Charles Smith of Brownlee, NE, on November 25, 1960, in Dunning and the couple lived for a time in Brownlee and Merna, NE, eventually settling in Brownlee, where Charles worked for the Cherry County Road Department.  The couple had three children, Mavis, Bev, and Steve, and Alice stayed busy in her role as wife and mother. 

Alice was very hardworking and loved her family, always taking care of them and their home. She enjoyed cooking and baking and had a special knack for experimenting with new recipes and perfecting techniques.  She also liked reading, fishing, sewing, playing cards and games, and had a soft spot for animals. She spent a lot of time with her children, taking them fishing on the weekends and packing picnic lunches, reading to them, and welcoming pet turtles and caterpillars into her home as well.  

She looked forward to the fourth of July each year when family would come to visit, relish good food, and catch up on life.  She was active with the Brownlee Canasta Club, participating in card games and other activities. She was also a skilled quilter, and canned and preserved some of the tastiest food around. Later on, Alice worked as Officer in Charge for the Brownlee Post office until its closing in 1989. 

As her family grew, she had fun spending time with sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  Though really very fond of them, she was good at giving her sons-in-law a hard time. She cherished her grandchildren and took on many activities with them; giving haircuts, dressing up for Halloween, showing them games, and ‘trying’ to teach them to cook. She never really said no to them, always complying with any appeal for a pen, a crayon, a bag for collecting rocks, or ‘something to do’. 

Being the accomplished cook, baker, and candy maker that she was, she continued sharing her delicious creations in the kitchen. She could take on any recipe and just as easily discount any that weren’t up to her standard; she knew what she was doing. Though at times a woman of few words, Alice always had something to say about food – a new recipe she’d heard about or a ‘tip’ for improvement.  Her kitchen never lacked some delicious snack, and her cinnamon rolls were a family favorite – always a first request on visits, to which Alice never said no.  

She was sharp-witted, often ready with a quick comeback or joke. She had a strong personality and a strong will- if she wanted it done, it got done; and if she didn’t want it done, it didn’t.  She loved to read, especially romance and mystery books, and she poured through them, knowing all the best authors to share with her grandkids. She adored her kitties, taking pictures, sending birthday cards, and saving stories, news, pictures, and recipes to share with her loved ones. She was thoughtful in her own quiet ways and gave the best goodbye hugs. She will be greatly missed. 

Alice is predeceased by father, Ed Mathauser, mother Maggie Shubert, brother Robert Mathauser, and sisters Margaret Palmer, Dora Sheets, and Dorothy Sprackling, and two infant brothers. She is survived by husband, Charles Smith, children Mavis Stark (Kevin Stark) of Hershey, Bev Rose (Joe Rose) of Eagle Butte, SD, and Steve Smith of North Platte, NE, grandchildren Maggie, Ryan, Walker, Alyssa, Thad, and great-grandchildren Silas, Becket, Kason, and Estelle. 

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