Alice Marie McKinney

Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, William Henry “Mac” McKinney, her parents, two brothers and three sisters. She is survived by six children, Bill and wife Gail, Pat, Mary Jane, Joyce Reuther, Mary Anne, and Tom. She also leaves behind two sisters, Mary Conner and Joyce Harvilchuck.

“Granny” was a proud and doting grandmother to nine grandchildren, Jason, Alicia, Lyndi, Amy, J.R., Dawn, Jacob, Jessica and Nathaniel (Nate). She was additionally blessed with sixteen great grandchildren, Alex, Allie, Addison (born the day before her death), Kylee, Kasidy, Klayton, Quentin, Maycie, Ben, Josh, Hunter, Henry, Selvie Mae, Shylee, Jimmie & Braylee.

Alice met Mac during World War II in Pensacola at the local USO, where she, her mother, and sisters taught servicemen to dance. Alice and Mac were married February 18, 1946. After Mac’s service to his country they moved to Dallas, Texas and then to Houston.

Alice was a devout Catholic and strict disciplinarian to her children. She instilled the values of truth, honesty, loyalty to family, friends and employers, a strong work ethic and positive attitude. Mama always told us that no matter what happened, it was for the best and it was our responsibility to make the best of every situation. She also constantly repeated the benefits of following the Golden Rule and in her life, practiced what she preached.

While Alice expected her children to rise above and make the best of even the most difficult situations, she was always there to lend an ear, give a hug, share a cup of coffee or spin you around the living room as she helped you jitterbug your cares away, and remember what was really important in life. There was never a time when we needed her that she wasn’t there for us.

Alice was the kind of Catholic woman that was in church any time the doors were open. She would faithfully attend mass, with all children and grandchildren in tow. She went to mass every day during Lent. She was truly devoted to her faith and her Church. She was not one to tolerate judgment, and the first to admit that she wasn’t perfect. “Nothing punishes like the tongue” she would tell us, and “The ground is level at the foot of the cross” to remind us that only Jesus is perfect enough to judge.

Alice and Mac made every sacrifice necessary to see that their six children had all they needed (if not all they wanted) to be a success in life. They provided the opportunity for an exceptional education and continually offered encouragement in all their children’s endeavors. They loved all their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren unconditionally and their devotion to family never waned.

Alice, Mama, Granny will always be remembered for her infectious sense of humor, loyalty and love of family and friends, as well as her always positive, can-do attitude. These memories, while describing who she is, pale in comparison to the memories of her culinary skill. Friends are quoted as saying Alice had more recipes than Betty Crocker, and was a better cook too. Among her made from scratch specialties were fried chicken, rump roast, rice & gravy, spaghetti & meatballs, turkey & dressing, potato salad, coconut custard pie, strawberry pie, pound cake, divinity, fruit cakes and cinnamon rolls. Homemade was the only way for Mama. B-O-X was a four letter word. She passed many of these skills on to her daughters and every holiday meal has become a tribute to her cooking and baking.

One exception to duplication of her skill is her cinnamon rolls. These were made for special occasions and took all night for her to produce a batch to be ready by morning. While the recipe is no secret in the family, no one can reproduce that special “something” that was in Mama’s cinnamon rolls: Love.

She always remembered “preferences” of her family when cooking and baking. She often made several versions of a dish to accommodate everyone’s taste. Every year at Thanksgiving she would make two batches of potato salad, one with olives and onions (her preference) and one without for those who didn’t care for them.

In her last years she suffered from dementia that at times made her seem checked out. Just when we least expected, with family gathered at the dining room table, she would throw out one of her award winning “zingers” and her little smirk, just to let us know she had not missed a beat of what was going on around her.

The family was truly blessed by the devotion of Mary Jane & Mary Anne, who cared for Mama in her final years. Mama was able to remain in her home thanks to the commitment of Mary Jane and Mary Anne. Out of enormous love for her, they put their lives on hold for over four years to care for her in her home and honor her wishes. The rest of us are incredibly grateful for their selfless devotion. Thank you so much. We love you.

It is impossible to express what Mama has meant to us. We are so blessed and so thankful to have had the love and influence of this beautiful, remarkable woman. She will always be remembered, never forgotten!

Visitation wil be 5-8pm, Tuesday, September 30, 2014 Rosary at 7:00 at Pat H. Foley Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10:00am, Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 3600 Brinkman St, Houston,77018. Internment will be held in St. John Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida.

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Dear Mama, Granny,

We are all heavy hearted down here on earth because we miss you. Even though we knew the time was coming, we miss our Granny, our Mama, our Aunt Alice, because there simply is no one like you.

Because of you, every one of us has eaten better.  Every parent among us has loved our kids a little more. Because of you, our family stuck together. Because of you we’re better Catholics. Because of you, some lucky people scattered across the Gulf Coast got annual fruit cakes.

When Mama cooks, everyone gathers, around a big dining table, next to a little kitchen that turned out some big, amazing meals. You were the best Mama, the best Granny, the best sister & friend anyone could hope for. The world is truly a better place because of you.

There are so many things we all miss, but there is one image that likely stands out for us all… you, in your kitchen on Bron Holly. Something is cooking on the stove, something baking in the oven. A pot of coffee is brewing. The phone is ringing and there is an adorable baby in a high chair at one end of the dining table, Mac is at the other playing solitaire, and both are waiting for the world’s finest Southern cooking. Someone is watching TV in the living room. More family is on their way over to eat. And you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Granny, you were the center of it all for us. You taught us how to cook, how to pray and how to crack a good joke. In our opinion, there is no finer Southern Lady.

With All Our Love,

Your Family