Alice Catherine Lizee

Alice was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend whose curiosity, wit, and generosity touched everyone who knew her. She had a gift for making people feel special — surprising loved ones with thoughtful gifts and mystery trips whose destinations were revealed only once you were already on the way, and delighting in nothing more than a good game, a good book, or a good adventure.

Born on May 27, 1937, in Pontiac, Michigan, Alice went on to live a life defined by curiosity and reinvention. At a time when women often did not strike out across the country on their own, Alice left Michigan to work in Santa Barbara, California at General Motors, where she eventually met her husband Arthur “Bud” Lizee. Bud was always up for Alice’s plans and adventures, big or small, for their 47 years together.

Dayton, Ohio, was her longtime home, where she and Bud raised their son Erik. She was a devoted mother who introduced him to so many of her beloved activities— boating and swimming in virtually any body of water, horseback riding, garden design, and outdoor walks. They shared these interests throughout their lives. She was a great champion and defender of his hard work and success, and always a sympathetic ear when times were hard. She extended that support and devotion to her daughter-in-law, Michele, when she joined the family.

She eventually settled in Birmingham, Alabama, to be close to Erik and Michele, and her grandson, Max. You did not have to spend much time with Alice before hearing about Max. She delighted in his every quirk and accomplishment. She took him to the library weekly when he was young, was in the stands at every swim meet, little league game, and musical performance.

Alice was eager to travel and see the world, to learn how to make beautiful things, and to connect deeply with the people around her. She returned to school later in life to earn her PhD, going on to build a career as a clinical psychologist while also teaching sociology to undergraduates. She brought that same appetite for learning into everything she touched — she was a gifted craftswoman, especially skilled at making jewelry, and never let unfamiliarity stop her from picking up a new skill. In the kitchen, she never met a recipe she didn't want to tweak, adjust, or make her own.

Alice kept in touch with friends from childhood and traveled to visit her family members who lived all across the country. She was a formidable Scrabble player who showed no mercy at the board, and was a daily devotee of New York Times games. For years she hosted a weekly Mah Jong game that brought her friends together, and enjoyed her extensive community at the Unitarian Church. She read voraciously — literary fiction and mysteries, particularly British ones — and followed politics with real passion, always ready to share an opinion.

A true adventurer, Alice loved to travel, and one of her journeys led her to reconnect with family in Croatia. She became the one who bridged the American branch of the Bego family with their relatives there, a connection that meant a great deal to her and to those who came after.

Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur "Bud" Lizee (1929–2013), and her parents, Catherine and Anton Bego. She is survived by her son, Erik Lizee (Michele); her grandson, Max; her step-children, Cheryl Ayers, Jack Lizee, Denise Forbes, and Renee Lizee; and her brothers, Robert Bego (Mary) and Eugene Bego, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held on August 8, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church.