Alice J. Bixby
1932-2018
Alice J. Bixby, born February 11, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois, died July 15, 2018. She grew up in Lemont, Illinois and moved to Spring, Texas in December, 1970 with her beloved husband Walter E. Bixby, who died in 1991 while he was employed on the staff of The Houston Chronicle.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Ethel Coakley; her sister and brother-in-law Lori and Jack Carr; brother-in-law Gilbert Helbig; nephew Paul Stein, Jr; niece Sara Helbig; and step-sons Thomas and Darryl Bixby.
Alice is survived by her daughters, Jan (Kevin) Gough of Cypress, Cheryl Sansom of Pinehurst, and son-in-law Arthur Sansom of Tomball. Alice lived her life as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, as well as a loving aunt and friend.
She had several careers in her lifetime, joining her husband, Walt, on staff of her Illinois hometown newspaper, as Editor of The Spring Tribune, and as Managing Editor of The Woodlands Sun and 1960 Sun newspapers. She later had a career in banking at both Champions and Greenspoint Banks. The highlight of her working years came when she worked as an administrative aide for the late Harris County Commissioner Bob Eckels, retiring from Harris County while working for the County Engineer.
She loved and served her community in many ways. She was a member of Klein United Methodist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher, member of the Chancel Choir, and past chairman of the Altar Guild. Alice was a member and past president of the Northwest Women's Club and a forty year member of the Northwest Forest Republican Women.
Along with her daughters and sons-in-law, Alice is survived by her step-daughters Marcia and Nancy Bixby of Minnesota; her sister Lillian Helbig of Genoa, Illinois; and her sister-in-law Marian Bixby West of Florida. She is also survived by her grandchildren Randy and Kim Sansom, Christina and Raymond Sanderson, Kevin Gough, Jr., Timothy and Lindsey Gough, Dale Sansom, and Lisa and Traci LaLaberti. Great-grandchildren include Austin, Delaney, Lauren, Kristol, Reagan, Caitlin, Caila, Jarrod, Colton, Atraills, Sheldon, Tristan, Greta, Lucette, Wyatt and Memphis, along with many beloved nieces and nephews.
Friends and family are invited to attend her Celebration of Life service at Klein United Methodist Church on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in her name to the Klein United Methodist Church Building Fund, 5920 FM 2920, Spring, Texas 77388.