Funeral services for Alice Mary Wilson, 92, will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, August 18, 2017 at the Memorial Baptist Church in Wheatland, Wyoming with Pastor Mark Porter officiating. Interment will be in the Wheatland Cemetery.
Alice died Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at the Platte County Legacy Home in Wheatland.
Alice Mary Poggie Wilson was born Wednesday, March 25, 1925 on Long Island, New York. She lived there with her family, often taking her younger brother, Richie, to the New York Yankee games where they watched Joe DiMaggio play. She rode the train into the city where she worked for Bell Telephone Company as an operator. In 1945, she and a friend rode the train to San Francisco, California where she continued to work for the telephone company during World War II. She met Rowan Willis while he was stationed there with the United States Navy. They were married in Morenci, Arizona and she moved to the Willis family ranch near Duncan, Arizona where her daughter Linda and son, Dick were born.
In 1964, she married Norman J. Wilson and they began a lifelong adventure. They traveled with his work throughout Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada, Wyoming and even Algeria before finally returning to Wyoming where they found their favorite home.
Alice and Norman loved being outdoors, boating and water skiing for years on Lake Mead at Las Vegas, and then at Glendo and Gray Rocks Reservoir at Wheatland. When the grandchildren were little, they often took them fishing and camping in the Snowy Range.
Known throughout her community as Granny, she attended baseball games, basketball games, rodeos, gymnastics and plays over the years to watch her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Granny liked to dance and loved to play cards at family holiday gatherings.
Alice was known for her love of dogs, with many as part of her family. Her last dog, Blondie, was her faithful companion after Norman passed away.
She was baptized as a young girl, and attended church regularly. She read her prayers daily and loved Jesus her Savior.
She was preceded in death by the love of her life, husband, Norman, on November 30, 2007.
Alice was also predeceased by her parents, Eugene Poggie and Julia Ferraugio who came to the United States from Italy through Ellis Island. She was also preceded in death by her beloved brothers Joey Poggie, Ernie Poggie, and Richie Poggie and great-granddaughter McKenna Burke.
She is survived by her daughter Linda Willis of Wheatland, and son Dick (Tina) Willis of Wheatland. She is also survived by her granddaughter Denise McDaniel, grandsons Shawn Willis, Sean (Lindsey)Burke, Frank Willis and Dennis Willis; special great-grandchildren Jhett McDaniel, Jacey McDaniel, Drew McDaniel, Logan Willis, Cash Burke, and favorite nieces and nephew.
Serving as pallbearers will be Shawn Willis, Sean Burke, Frank Willis, Dennis Willis, Jhett McDaniel, Mark Kersting, and Bruce Derra.
Family and friends may call at the church on Friday from 12:30 P.M. to 1:30 P.M.
A memorial to the Platte County 4-h Building Fund, 59 Antelope Gap Road, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201 would be appreciated by the family.
The Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com
