Alice R. Echols, 88, of Mt. Vernon died 4 a.m. Aug. 10, 2005, at Mt. Vernon Care Center in Mt. Vernon.

She was born July 18, 1917, in Mt. Vernon to Harry and Inez (Johnson) Coleman.

She married Claude L. Echols July 23, 1938, in Mt. Vernon; he preceded her in death Feb. 24, 1993.

She graduated from Mt. Vernon Township High School in 1935 and was employed at Mt. Vernon Car Manufacturing Co. She was the mother of 11 children and a housewife.

She was a member of Union Chapel United Methodist Church of Texico. She was a past member and past secretary of United Methodist Women. She was formerly a volunteer at the Sunshine Center in Dix. She was an active PTA member and Girl Scout leader. She also served as an election judge for the Republican Party in Mt. Vernon.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Eddie Echols; a daughter, Brenda (Echols) Smith; and two brothers, Beryl Coleman and Tony Reif.

Mrs. Echols is survived by three sons, Frank Echols of Houston, Texas, Harry G. Echols and wife Sue of Mt. Vernon; and Jeff Echols and wife Becky of Angleton, Texas; six daughters, Janet Hanes and husband Bill of Mt. Vernon, Anita Thompson of Mt. Vernon, Cindy Diller of Mt. Vernon, Jane Douthit and husband Marty of Dix, Nancy Wessling and husband Don of Du Bois and Loretta Karcher and husband Gail of Mt. Vernon; a brother, Arthur Coleman of Johnstown, Pa.; a sister, Mabel Richards of Chicago; 17 grandchildren, Scott, Bryan and Emily Echols, Susan Emery, Rebecca Beal and Billy Tom Hanes, Carmen (Smith) Ham, Dustin and Nicholas Thompson, Melody Neideffer, Natalie Diller, Chris and Allison Douthit, Joshua and Jeremy Hughey and Brandon and Logan Karcher; and six great-grandchildren, Aidan and Ansley Echols, Zoe Echols, Robbie Emery and Kelsi and Cye Ham.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at Newell Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, with the Rev. Murriel Nance officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Newell Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. For those wishing, memorials may be made to Union Chapel Church or the Jefferson County Historical Society and will be accepted at Newell Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, where you may call 246-0100 for more information.

Source: Register-News, Mt Vernon IL
Date: August 12, 2005
Submitted by: Robert W. Loman