Alice Louise Luckhardt

Alice Louise (Kershaw) Luckhardt was born in Orlando, Florida, February 28, 1950, to parents Harry and Nan (Everhart) Kershaw. Alice's accomplishments through the years were many and varied. Having been diagnosed with cancer in June 2022, she bravely succumbed to the disease, December 4, 2022, at age 72. She grew up in Dade County, a 1968 graduate of Miami Central High, Miami-Dade Junior College and Florida State by 1972 with a B.S. in history and education to be employed as a teacher at Stuart Middle School, relocating to Stuart, Florida that year where she would meet and marry Greg Luckhardt, August 27, 1983. Alice was involved with school curriculum committee and class projects, several honored with monetary awards. She organized a student European field trip tour with a dozen students in 1977 and another in '83. In Daytona Beach in April 1986, Alice was honored with a trophy as one of the outstanding social studies teachers in Florida and in 1990 selected to be in the first edition of 'Who's Who Among American Teachers' nominated by a student. She retired from teaching in 1990 to assist husband, Greg, with the family business, Lucky's Flea Market and Storage on Luckhardt Street in Stuart. During this time, Alice developed an interest in genealogy and family research, submitting a story to a nationally known genealogist to be selected and published in the book "In Search of Our Ancestors: 101 Inspiring Stories" in 1999.

After Lucky's Flea Market sold in 2000, Alice devoted more time for genealogical and historical research projects. She wrote several true stories which were published in national and local magazines such as: Ancestry, Internet Genealogy, History, Discovering Family History Magazine, South Florida History, Family Chronicle, Florida Monthly, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, Genealogical Helper and Reminisce with several articles also published Online in 'Suite 101' and 'Associated Content' both being historical websites. Alice also extensively researched the Kershaw and Luckhardt family lineages, tracing her relatives to the Revolutionary War and Greg's to two Mayflower passengers and William the Conqueror.

She wrote four books since 2006, published through Lulu of NC, titled “Legends ~ Family Stories and Myths,” “The Invincible Alice,” “O.B. Padgett ~ A Florida Son” and the most recent in 2016, “Did You Know?” featuring forty little known facts or historical events. She also assisted in providing research and how-to articles for the genealogy sites, WikiTree and FamilyTree.com. Selected by Arcadia Publishing in NC, Alice researched and organized 200 vintage photos, 1890s-1950s, depicting the history of Stuart for the company's 'Images of America' series, released in 2016. From 2012-2022 Alice with husband, Greg, researched and wrote a weekly series of 'Historical Vignettes' for TC Palm's, Your News, without compensation, which with that and other acknowledged accomplishments were selected Preservationists of the Year in 2013. Alice also extensively researched for projects for the Elliott Museum and Gilbert's House of Refuge in Martin County and was involved in Stuart Heritage Museum's Historic Home Tours. Since 2010 she was a member of the museum's Board of Directors. As a qualified Martin County historian, Alice enjoyed lecturing at various venues regarding Martin County's interesting history and was involved with the Stuart Main Street committee and creation of the 7 ft. historical 'sailfish' markers throughout the town.

She was the historical coordinator for the 'Century in Review' a live 90-minute program at the Lyric Theatre to mark the 100th anniversary of the City of Stuart in March 2014. In 2015, Alice researched and proposed naming the Gazebo in downtown Stuart for Fergie Ferguson, a war hero and accomplished athlete. She also assisted in providing information about local fallen soldiers, one of which is selected each year to be honored with a plaque in the park by the City of Stuart on Memorial Day.

In 2015, she was asked to participate in the writing and filming of a docudrama television episode for a show titled, "American Lawmen" produced by Cineflix for the American Heroes Channel, featuring Alice's extensive research of the Ashley Gang. She appeared on the program which aired nationally March 9, 2016. Alice was a member of the Stuart Heritage Museum, Martin County Historical Society, Martin County Genealogical Society, International Society of Family History Writers and Editors, Carroll County, MD Genealogical Society and a former member, officer of the Daughters of the British Empire of Florida. On December 9, 2016 she was awarded "Women in American History" by the National and Local DAR organization for historical research, one of only ten in the nation selected that year and the first in Martin County. In June 2018, Alice's American Revolutionary patriot heritage and lineage was approved to be accepted as a member of the Halpatiokee Chapter of the Stuart DAR. She has assisted All Saints Church in Jensen Beach with research through the years and most recently with information for those buried with no available record. Alice was involved with Emancipation Day history in 2021 and has provided research for the Stuart City Commissioners for preserving historic landmarks. For 2021, the FSSDAR, Florida DAR recognized and honored Alice for efforts in various local preservation projects and presentations. During 2022, she was involved with the History Channel's series, Great Escapes, with information and filming regarding a local boy who led a life of crime, noted as one of the great prison escape artists. The story was featured as one of Alice and Greg's, 'Historical Vignettes' in 2018. Through the years, Alice often assisted members of the community in answering genealogical or historically related questions, always dedicated and enthusiastic in preserving the region's little known facts and interesting stories. She will certainly be missed as a local historian and researcher who has contributed so much for Martin County, which is quite evident.

For leisure, educational and fun activities as an adult, Alice enjoyed traveling, with such adventures as touring/exploring the western states with a friend Mary Ann in the 1970s and in later years of the '70s and '80s, a field trip tour through Europe with SMS students. She especially enjoyed an unforgettable month vacation visiting/touring England with the Luckhardt family in 1984. There were fond memories of viewing some of the sites in California in the '90s, including the redwood forests, even driving through the trunk of a giant tree. Other notable vacations included, fabulous Vegas in 1999 and '04, several earlier U.S. destinations, some in Florida and many cruises to the islands. Alice also enjoyed parlor or board games, especially trivia oriented, liked listening to music and viewing old TV shows from the 1950s, '60s & '70s. Although childless, she and Greg adopted/owned two poodles, Coco and Flicker through the years. Greg and Alice, being former teachers, decided and intend through estate planning to eventually establish a high school scholarship fund to encourage students' education. As pet owners, both also agreed to include available estate funds for donations to the Animal Rescue League and worthy organizations such as the Stuart Heritage Museum, Historical Society of Martin County, DAR, Martin County Genealogy Society and others to improve or benefit the community.

Alice is survived by her husband, Greg; brother-in-law, Dr. C. Grant Luckhardt, wife Arabelle and daughter Cassandra; sister-in-law, Elisa; brother-in-law, Bill Teepe and daughters, Dawn, Kristen, Lindsey; nephew Rick Kershaw, wife Pam; cousin Jeff Kershaw; niece Heather, several great-nieces, great-nephews, other in-laws and distant relatives. Alice was predeceased by her parents, Harry and Nan, both serving in the military. She was especially proud of her mother, Nan, being buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Unfortunately, Alice was also predeceased by all of her siblings, brothers, Richard, Robert and sister, Carol.

In lieu of flowers or cards, memorial donations may be made to Stuart Heritage Museum. Arrangements are under the direction of Aycock Funeral Home, whose website has offered the beautiful permanent memorial with bio-obituary for Alice. --- 12/04/22