Mary Alice Luckett

Our beautiful mama, Mary Alice Luckett, age 87, a lifelong Ridgway resident, peacefully passed on this life, July 25, 2022 at 12:55 pm in the Wabash Christian Village, Carmi, Illinois.  Mary Alice was born on September 8, 1934 to the late Paul Smith and Mary Louise (Hale) Brugger.  

Mom worked hard all of her life, well into her 70s.  She retired from the Egyptian Health Department after 34 years as the office manager, served as the Chairman of the Gallatin County Board of Review for over 20 years, and also as a GRI real estate agent for Ozment Realty.  She was an incredible cook, baker and enjoyed sharing her baked goodies with family, friends and neighbors.  Her angel food cakes and chocolate chip cookies were award winning at local fairs.   Mom was a very talented gardener, and spent many years cultivating beautiful flower beds that would rival anything you would see in Better Homes and Gardens magazine.  Mom loved being on the go.  We jokingly called her “Mommy Run Run.”

She enjoyed Broadway shows, dancing, socializing with friends, traveling and made many trips to Florida. Fried Grouper sandwiches were one of her favorites!  Mom also spent many years volunteering at St. Joseph School, helping with craft fairs and driving her children to many practices.  She never missed a school event.  She was always doing things for others and never expected anything in return.  But mom’s biggest love was being with her children and especially her grandchildren.  She was lovingly known as “Grandma Alice.” She was an incredibly kind, loving, wonderful and elegant mother, grandmother and good friend to many and will be dearly missed.  She was one in a million.

Mary Alice is survived by a son, Scott (Denise) Luckett, two daughters, Lynn (Scott) Arnold, Paula (Mark) Laack; eight grandchildren, Rachael Gourley, Jessica (Tom) Freebourn, Blake (Shana) Luckett, Elaina (Jacob) Shoulders, Mary Luckett, Zachary Lambert, Nicholas Lambert and Chase Arnold; 11 great grandchildren, Isabelle Freebourn, Gabrielle “Gabby” Freebourn, Lucas “Luke” Freebourn, Madeleine Gourley, Hayes Luckett, Harlow Luckett, Arthur Gourley, Tula Shoulders, Hale Luckett, Hattie Mae Shoulders and Harlyn Luckett.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Smith and Mary “Louise” Brugger, a stepfather, Arthur Brugger, a son, Brad Luckett, a brother, Dr. Paul Barton Smith and a granddaughter, Samantha Luckett.

Visitation will be on Friday, August 19, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Cox & Son Funeral Home in Ridgway.  Her funeral service will be private.