Mary Lucille "Alice" Bush

Mary Lucille "Alice" Bush was born Sept. 1, 1933, daughter of Hezekiah Dudley and Lena Belle (Canfield) Hix in Climax Springs, Camden County, Mo. She grew up loving the Ozark Mountains of Macks Creek, Mo., exploring the natural beauty there. She absorbed the Native American heritage of her mother there, as well, and learned a deep love, respect, and appreciation of the natural world as well as the spiritual one. Her beliefs and roots were Cherokee and Osage as well as Baptist.

She found and married the love of her lifetime, Wallace Lee "Bud" Bush, in 1952. They married in Yellville, Marion County, Ark., on the 20th of July, 1952. There were two stepsons she took into her heart from the beginning, Terry and Jim Bush, and later they had a daughter of their own, Mary Ann, in 1966. She and Bud spent nearly 40 years together, before he passed away, leaving a hole she never refilled. On Dec. 15, she rejoined him.

She had a huge heart, and took in any who needed love and caring. She would be a mother to anyone who needed her. She would fight for anyone who needed her to fight for them. She would welcome with open arms any who needed shelter. She spent her entire life caring and giving and loving.

She enjoyed the bounties of nature, loved gardening, and often raised huge gardens. She also loved hunting for everything from wild berries to morel mushrooms from nature's gardens. She enjoyed reading, and puzzles of any kind when she couldn't be outside. She had a love for her local sports teams that lasted most of her adult life, and loved the Royals and Chiefs sports teams, cheering them on through every game.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother, Hezekiah Dudley, Jr.; and a step-son, Terry. Survivors include her daughter, Mary Ann (Bush) Bittle and husband Gary; and two grandsons, Matthew and Joshua Bittle; sister, Betty (Hix) Stoner; stepson, Jim Bush; step-grandchildren, Stephanie, Terry Junior, and Matthew; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and more; and many who may not have shared blood, but shared in her life, touched by her heart and soul in many ways.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. Family will receive friends from 12 p.m. until service time.

You may view obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.