ALLISON, Mary Alice (Burdett) - b. September 19, 1936 - d. March 1, 2023

[patyrn]

Mary Alice Allison was surrounded by family as she passed from this life to meet Jesus her Savior on March 1, 2023.  She was born September 16, 1936 to Silas Rex and Mamie Ann (Lambert) Burdett.  She was born and raised in the Cedar Vale, Kansas area for three years before moving to the Grenola, Kansas area.  She was four years old when her family moved in to Grenola.  She lived within 40 miles of her  birthplace for 82 years until moving to Texas in 2018.

Mary Alice said she cried all day when she started first grade.  Those tears quickly changed to a desire for learning.  High school was filled with studies, activities, and boys.  She was elected as a cheerleader her freshman year and played clarinet in the band for four years.  In her words, "I never made first chair because I didn't like to practice like my friend, Raemoloene."   She was a drum majorette along with her best friend, Colleen Wartick.  Mary Alice was elected Carnival Queen her junior year and also was chosen to go to Girls State by the City Council in 1953.  During her senior year, she was selected as Arkalala Queen representing Grenola in the annual fall festival held in Arkansas City Kansas.  Mary Alice served as president of her senior class and graduated valedictorian.  She loved high school, and that time held many fond memories and life-long friendships for her. 

In October 1953, Mary Alice set her eyes on this tall, dark, handsome man that came to Grenola.  Ronald Dean Allison would soon become the love of her life.  She said she had to chase him pretty vigorously to get him to pay attention to her.  Even though they started dating in October, it was assumed this other guy would be bringing her home from Arkalalah.  She worked it so Ronald ended up bringher her home.  Mary Alice said, "I had never done anything like that before.  I don't know what happened with the other guy."  Mary Alice and Ronald dated all through her senior year.

After graduation, Mary Alice took a job in Wichita, Kansas working for Civil Service during the summer.  Ronald would drive to Wichita every Friday to bring her home and then take her back on Sunday.  Even though her supervisor believed Mary Alice would advance quickly and be successful in a career, Mary Alice had much bigger plans.  Ronald proposed after a "hotty" kiss.  He said, "Well, I guess we should get married".  He was always a man of few words.  They married October 31, 1954, one day after Ronald turned 21.  Ronald's mother, Velma, had to sign permission for Mary Alice to marry since she was only 19. 

After a honeymoon in Carlsbad,New Mexico, Ronald and Mary Alice moved to the Ferguson Ranch between Cambridge and Grenola.  They lived there 25 years and raised their four children, Debra, Vance, Sarah,and Brian. In 1980, Ronald realized his dream of owning his own land.  Th4y pruchased 160 acres from Byron and Ida Stiles just south of Grenola.   In July 2018 after selling their land and home they moved to Mineola, Texas for health reasons and to be closer to their daughter Debra and her husband, Don.  Ronald's health continued to decline, and he went to be with his Savior in September 2019.  After almost 65 years of marriage, Maryh Alice never fully adapted to his passing and yearned to return to Kansas to be cloe to more family and see friends more frequently.  You can take the girl out of Kansas, but you can't take Kansas out of this girl.

Mary Alice attended Cowley College and studied pre-nursing for a year and then studied Children's Literature for two years.  Her dream was to write children's books.  Although that was not to be, she loved writing and had a few articles published in the Christian Standard and Lookout.

Mary Alice worked as an Administrative Assistant to five principals at Central High School in Burden, Kansa for 29 years.  She eventuallyh added bus driving and secretary of the school board to her responsibilities.  She loved working with the students.  Because she loved high school as a teenager, it broke her heart to see students in high school that were so miserable.  She said she would sometimes go to the storeroom and cry.  After retiring, Mary Alice volunteered with CASA, read to the elementary students in Burden as a paraprofessional, worked in the community, served in the Grenola Christian Church, and traveled all over the United States, Ireland, Israel, and took two mission trips to Hungary and Mexico.

Mary Alice was baptized May 12, 1948.  She and Ronald were members of and served at the Grenola Christian Church for over 70 years. As a married couple with young children, they taught the high school class. Later,  Ronald taught adults and served many years as an elder.  Mary Alice taught young kids including VBS.  She sang with the Three for Three trio for 12 years with Wanda Wartick and Paulette Kessinger.  They sang all around this area and were "pretty good".  Mary Alice had a passion for serving the Lord, family, children, missions, and helping where needed, especially with people who were down on their luck;.

Mary Alice is survived by her chidlren, Debra (Don) Clemons of Mineola, Texas, Vance (Nancy) Allison of Columbia, Missouri, Sarah (Jim) Leftwich of Derby, Kansas, and Brian Allison of Oklahoma Cityh, Oklahoma;a; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and great-nieces, and nephews and great-nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Ronald Allison; her parents, Silas and Mamie Burdett; her brothers, Alfred (Fern) Burdett, Sam (Maxine) Burdett, and Allen (Donna) Burdett; her sister, Alma (Cleo) Bainter; her parents-in-law, F.R. "Curly and Velma Allison; her sisters-in-law, Carol Stegelman and Juvene Allison; and  her brothers-in-law, Bill Brooks and Gary Baker.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Grenola Christian Church, 306 N. Cana Street, Grenola, Kansas followed by funeral service at the church at 3:00 p.m.  Interment will be held at Greenlawn Cemetery in Grenola, Kansas.  Miles Funeral Service of Winfield, Kasnas has been entrusted with arrangements.

(taken from the Miles Funeral Service website)