Alice Irene (Jennings) Rees passed away on August 8, 2023.  Born in Schenectady, New York on December 9, 1925 to George Arthur and Mildred Elizabeth Weyrich Jennings. She was the beloved elder sister to  Dorothy and Grace.  When a young girl the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri.  Alice graduated from Kansas City High School.

In 1944, Alice married Edgar Steffen Ehlers.  The couple traveled the US and South America for Ed's work as a consulate for the US State Department. In 1945, Ed was appointed to the US Embassy in Chile. Here, their eldest daughter Nancy Irene was born. The family returned to the US and while moving from Oregon to Michigan to Colorado, 4 more children were born; Carolyn Ann, John Arthur, James Steffen and Thomas Edward.  While in the states one business the couple had was raising chinchillas as there was a big movement to increase chinchilla farming in the US.  Eventually, Ed was reappointed to the embassy and they returned to South America.  This time moving to Cochabamba, Bolivia, where Alice loved the culture.  She spoke happily of the times learning Spanish and the many customs of her new home. In 1957 the couple divorced and Alice and the children returned to the Village of Glenaire, MO to be near her family to see what would come next.

What came next was a handsome and hard-working man, Richard Kent (Dick) Rees.  He adored Alice and was happy in 1960 to be united with this beautiful woman and her 5 children.  Alice did insist he quit smoking before she agreed to marry him.  A lifetime of fun began. Living in Liberty, Missouri, Dick and Alice lived a rich and full life.  Dick was a homebuilder by trade along with being a skier, a fisherman, a hunter, and an adventurer in general. Together they built many homes with Dick doing the construction and Alice put the finishing touches on each home.  Selecting and installing the wallpaper, paint, etc. ( the woman loved a wallpaper border.) They were a team in everything.  Their lives were centered around outdoor adventures and Alice excelled at them along with Dick. Each earned their pilot's license and flew their small plane to Canada for fishing trips and Wyoming for hunting trips.  Always one for an adventure, Alice led trips with a friend to Europe.  They also included the kids on many trips to ski in Colorado, fish in Wyoming and began an annual Ozarks' float trip tradition which continues to this day.  They truly had fun in life, working hard and playing hard.

After retirement, the couple built their dream house and moved to Table Rock Lake. Then due to Dick's health they made the move into Springfield. Dick and Alice loved to entertain, and Alice could always be found in the kitchen "wamping up some food."  She was known for being a fabulous cook and never met a dessert she didn't like. Both her peanut butter pie and carrot cake are legendary.  Even into their 80's Alice and Dick hosted parties and invited not only their friends but the friends of their children to join in the fun.
Alice loved nothing more than time spent with her extended family. Holidays and parties were always special because of her extra care. Her 7 grandchildren know that they had the BEST grandma anyone could hope for.  She made sure we all knew how very loved we were.

The last years of her life Alice lived in The Maples Skilled Nursing Center.  She lived as gracefully as one could while going through the transitions of Alzheimer's disease.  Her sweet and kind spirit stayed until the end.

Alice was proceeded in death by her parents, her sister Dorothy Krall, her husband Dick Rees, and her son in law Denver White.  She is survived by her sister Grace Stewart (Jerry); her brother in law John Krall; her 5 children Nancy White; Carolyn Thompson (Terry); John Ehlers; Jim Ehlers (Anne); Tom Ehlers (Abbe).  Also surviving her are her 7 grandchildren Michael White; Mary Knight, Missy White, Mona Trask, Mindy Betts, Kevin Ehlers, and Allison Sexson and their families.  She will also be greatly missed by her nieces and nephews, and a large circle of friends who were very dear to her.

If you wish to honor Alice's life, the family suggests you throw a party, cook a delicious meal or grab a cocktail and dance.  She was always the life of the party and would love for you to celebrate her life in a joyful way.  Just don't forget to eat the dessert! Memorial donations can be made in her name to the Alzheimer's Association Greater MO Chapter, https://www.alz.org/greatermissouri or 901 E St. Louis St, Ste 702, Springfield, MO 65806.

Alice's ashes will be interred with Dick's at the Missouri Veterans' Cemetery.  A celebration of her life will be planned and announced at a later date.