Alice Mayer Burt Reel

Alice Mayer Burt Reel of Stillwater passed from this life on Monday, November 7, 2011 after 89 wonderful years of life. Services have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home and will be held at 10:00am Friday November 11th at the funeral home chapel located at 5106 N. Washington in Stillwater, OK. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park in Shawnee, OK. Visitation will be held from 8am-8pm on Thursday, November 10 and the family will greet friends at the funeral home from 6pm-8pm on Thursday.
Alice was born on June 13, 1922 in rural Pontotoc County to Cecil Joseph Mayer and Irma N. (Parker) Mayer. She grew up in the Shawnee area, where she graduated from Shawnee High School. She also attended Oklahoma Baptist University. In 1941 she married Harold F. Burt at Boston Avenue Methodist Church in Tulsa. Alice was a homemaker from 1943 to 1950 following the birth of her two daughters Diane and Jane. In 1959, Alice and Harold opened Burts Grocery in Perkins, which they ran until 1962 when the couple relocated to Oklahoma City. Following Harolds passing in 1965, Alice moved back to Shawnee where she worked for Congressman Tom Steeds office for five years. In 1970, she married Charles Reel in Shawnee. The couple lived in California until Charles passed in 1980, at which point Alice returned to Shawnee. In 2000 she moved to Stillwater to be closer to her family and remained in the area until her passing.
Alice will be remembered as being very articulate and intelligent woman. She put these attributes to work at a young age as a stand out member of the debate team at Shawnee High School and OBU. Alice understood the importance of family and the roll that food plays in building relationships. She was well known for her ham, biscuits, and red-eye gravy. She appreciated the small things and never met a stranger. She was a very active, even serving as the greeter and one person welcoming committee at Grace Living Center. She took on the responsibility of making sure the new residents were introduced to the other residents and participated in the numerous activities Grace Living Center offered. She enjoyed attending bible study, playing games, and being a member of the Red Hat Society. Alice was always polite, unselfish, and a constant encourager. There was nothing in her life that she valued more than her family and she had a particular fondness for her grandchildren. Her love, kindness, and unfailing positive spirit will be missed by many.
Alice is survived by her daughters Diane LaFollette and husband J.W. of Stillwater, and Jane Davis and husband Steve of Firestone, CO; grandchildren Steven LaFollette of Pawnee, Mike LaFollette of Stillwater, Scott LaFollette and wife Trisha of Tulsa, Adria Tafoya and husband Michael of Firestone, CO, Joseph Davis and wife Stephanie of Aurora, CO, and Steven Davis, Jr. and wife Katherine of Ventura, CA; great grandchildren Jordan and Megan Tafoya, Samantha Davis, Autumn Colley and Bryce LaFollette, as well as many, many friends.
In addition to her parents, Alice was preceded in death by husband Harold Burt, and husband Charles Reel. The family requests that in lieu of flowers; please make donations in Alices name to the Life Adult Day Center in Stillwater or the St. Judes Childrens Hospital in care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home 5106 N. Washington. Stillwater, OK 74075
Friends may leave condolences for the family via an online guestbook available at www.pmcfh.com or on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/pmcfh