Alice Marie Rhea

She was born to Thomas Jefferson Rhea II and Clara Marie Rhea nee Cole on September 27, 1934, in Parma, Missouri, the fourth of eleven children. She married Billy Joe Mekan on September 28, 1951.

Their fruitful union produced eight children; Brenda Sue Hargrove, Billie Jean Owens Slusher, Mary Jo Davisson Franks, Angelina Marie Jenkins, Kathleen Louise Huffman, Thomas Albert Mekan, Linora Christine Furlong and John Andrew Mekan; 17 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. In the days preceding her death, she was surrounded by her children and many of her grand and great grandchildren.

Alice and Billy Joe lived together for many years in Bernie, Missouri, where she kept a lively home filled to the brim with her own and visiting children. In addition to working for the Bernie Shoe and Gossard Companies, she enjoyed dancing, socializing and attending the First Baptist Church in Bernie. She read voraciously to self-educate and sewed furiously to dress fashionably. In 1976, Alice and Billy moved their family to Lakewood, Colorado. While living in Colorado before retirement, Alice worked at Coors Porcelain and Walmart. Till her death, she loved dressing in white to compliment her lovely blue eyes.

She is survived by siblings Eva Galina Steele Hafer and Clarence Albert Rhea. She was preceded in death by her daughter Brenda Hargrove, husband Billy Joe Mekan, and siblings Nina Louise Cole, Virgil Earl Cole, Jack Pershing Rhea, Trellis Irine Weathers Bansept, Vera Mae Rhea, Paul Donald John Rhea, Peggy Ann Depue and James Thomas Rhea.

A memorial service for Alice will be held Friday, May 12, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Advantage Runyan-Stevenson, 6425 West Alameda Ave, Lakewood, CO 80226, followed by a reception from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Family and friends are welcome to attend a celebratory memorial service in Bernie, Missouri in September 2023. Her ashes will be interred at the Chalk Bluff Cemetery, Dexter, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the St. Anthony Health Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.advantagerunyan-stevenson.com for the Rhea family.