She was born September 17, 1928 in Aledo, IL to Richard and Alice (Cabeen) Edwards.
Surviving are her four children, Christina (Bob) Fidler of Cuba and Adele (Daniel) Smyczynski of St. Augustine, FL, Brent Armstrong of Corpus Christi, TX and Dwight Armstrong of Machesney Park, IL; nine grandchildren, Michelle Powers, Travis Smyczynski, Jacob Fidler, Janel Fidler, Kyle Armstrong, Ashley Kramer, Jeremy Scritchfield, Becca Brown and Matt Smyczynski; twelve great-grandchildren, and one sister Gertrude VanTine of Monmouth, IL.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers David and Richard C. Edwards, one sister Jane Kenney and one grandson, Forest Powers.
Mary Alice graduated from Illinois State University with a Master's Degree in Biology. She worked as an Associate Professor at Illinois Central College until retiring in 1994. She volunteered with the Proctor Hospital Auxiliary Group and was a member of the Unity Church in Peoria.
Mary Alice loved to travel the world, enjoyed reading, gardening, camping, hiking and spending time with her family and church community.
Cremation will be accorded and a celebration of life service will be at 2:00 pm, Sunday, September 15, 2019 at Unity Church in Peoria. Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Burial of the urn will be at Candor Cemetery in Aledo at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Unity Church. Words of comfort can be shared with the family at www.davison-fulton.com.
