Alice June (Henton) O’Malley Anderson of Berryton, Kansas, passed away on February 5, 2020, at the University of Kansas – St. Francis Hospital. Alice was surrounded by her family for whom she provided so much love and care in her lifetime.
Alice was born in Manhattan, Kansas on October, 8, 1950, to John Eldon and Evelyn Mae (Kinman) Henton and grew up in the Zeandale area. She attended the Tabor Valley School before finishing elementary school in Zeandale. Alice graduated from Wamego High School in 1968 and attended flight attendant school in Kansas City. Alice’s career path started at Kansas State University and culminated in her retirement from the Department of Revenue where she was instrumental in implementing and instructing all county appraisers on computer software for real property appraisal.
In December 1969, Alice married John E. O’Malley, in Manhattan, Kansas, and they had two sons, Shawn and John Paul. Alice and John later divorced. On May 15, 1987, Alice married Donald K. Anderson in Topeka and she welcomed Don’s children, Sarah and Scott, to the family. Alice and Don were inseparable during their 33 years together, from driving to work together every day to camping and attending bluegrass music events. Alice was a regular roadie, sound board operator and merch manager for Don’s bluegrass bands. In retirement, they took up golfing together and were routinely found on the links, followed by a happy hour with friends.
Alice gave mightily to her community. The bluegrass community will remember Alice as a dedicated member and leader. She served as the Treasurer of the Kansas Prairie Pickers Association and helped organize its events including, the Auburn Jams, the Prairie Lake Festival in Holton, Kansas each June, and wrote a regular article for the KPPA newsletter. Alice also crocheted and donated hundreds of blankets, as a “Blanketeer” for the Topeka Chapter of Project Linus for children in Northeast Kansas hospitals and foster care.
Alice loved her family. She was a dedicated daughter to her parents and her mother-in-law, Erma Miller, in their later years. She enjoyed many fishing trips and cruises with her siblings. Alice strove to care for and support her children, as youths and as they built their own families, in any way she could. Above all else, Alice was an exceptional “Baga” to her grandchildren, never turning down an opportunity to attend sporting events, dance recitals, and music performances.
With the support of her family, Alice bravely fought ovarian cancer for the last eight months. She did not let her diagnosis and treatment define her.
Alice is survived by her husband, Don, sons; Shawn (Michele) O’Malley, Shawnee, Kansas; John Paul (Kathy) O’Malley, Manhattan, Kansas; Scott (Hillary) Anderson, Olathe, Kansas; and daughter Sarah (Chuck) Glanville, Lenexa, Kansas. Baga will be dearly missed by her grandchildren – Tyler, Jack, Jordan, Sam, Clare, Gus and Violet. And her faithful companion Charlie Dog. Alice is also survived by her siblings, John (Donna) Henton, Blair, NE, Gladys (Jack) Conrow, Manhattan, Jim (Linda) Henton, Blair, NE, Mary Jo (Ralph) McHugh, Manhattan, Janet (Neil) Lee, Manhattan, and Kathern (Dan) Fronce, Manhattan.
Funeral Services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday February 14, 2020 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas with Rev. Paul Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.
Visitation will be from Noon until Service time on Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas Prairie Pickers Association or to the University of Kansas-St. Francis Campus Cancer Center in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.