Alice Marie Staples entered this world August 26, 1935, the daughter of Faye and Bernice Barrows. They preceded her in death. She lived in Lenawee county her entire life until she went to meet her Lord, November 17, 2022. On March 8, 1952, she married Charles Albert Staples, who preceded her in death on June 29, 2005. They shared 53 years together. They had three daughters Linda (Brian) Bird of Tecumseh, Patricia (Scott) Buwalda of Cumming, Georgia. Infant daughter Barbara died shortly after birth in 1962. They had six grandchildren: Melissa (Karl) Stein of Canton, Michigan, Sarah (Jason) Smith of Brighton, Michigan, Jonathan Buwalda (fiancé Olivia Jenkin) of Alpharetta, Georgia, and Rebecca Buwalda of Cumming, Georgia. They had four great grandchildren: Colton and Josephine Smith of Brighton, and Charlie and Joel Stein of Canton. Alice’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the joy of her life. Also surviving is sister-in-law, Mary Barrows of Livonia. Besides her husband, daughter, and parents, Alice was preceded in death by her brother George Barrows, sister Helen Mitchell and brother-in-law Richard Mitchell.

Alice was active in Tecumseh Friends Church, Tecumseh First Baptist Church, and most recently Clinton Baptist Church, where she often played piano for services. She was also founder of the Clinton Baptist “Clothes Closet.” Her faith was of utmost importance to her, and she was always involved in church ministries.

Alice returned to high school in her thirties to obtain her diploma and went on to Siena Heights College to obtain a degree in Elementary Education. She also obtained her Master’s in Education and a Reading Specialist degree. She began teaching fourth grade before transitioning to first grade in the Tecumseh Public Schools where her career spanned over 30 years. Teaching was one of the loves of her life, especially reading. She developed her own reading curriculum and taught literally hundreds of first graders to love reading. She retired to spend more time with her husband.  Beside spending time with her family and teaching, Alice enjoyed reading, traveling, and entertaining. She was a founding member of the Book Worms book club. She always had to finish a book whether she liked it or not! She enjoyed traveling with her husband, brother and sister, and spouses, and select friends. Later on, she enjoyed traveling and touring with her sister Helen; together they journeyed to Israel and the Holy Lands in her last and most special trip.

Visitation will be Monday, November 21, 6-8 pm at Anderson-Marry Funeral Home in Tecumseh. Rev. Jon Turner and Rev. Richard Mortimer will preside in a Celebration of Life service at Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 5290 Milwaukee Road, Tecumseh, MI, November 22, 2022, at 2 pm with visitation in the church an hour prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Brookside Cemetery, Tecumseh.

You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Learning Cove, a non-profit group that helps children improve their reading ability, care of Covenant Presbyterian Church or to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org). Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and service.