Matthew 25:23- 'Well done, good and faithful servant!'
Alice was born March 3, 1915, on the Wilson Ranch in Karnes County, Texas near Kenedy, the daughter of Carl and Elisabeth Petterson Helgren. Alice's mother, Elisabeth, and her family emigrated from Sweden in 1895 arriving in Galveston.
Alice passed away July 17, 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wallace Montgomery Lay, on April 3, 1968, her brothers Lawrence, Vernon and Aleck Helgren and her sisters Florence Eanes and Ruth Mathews.
Alice is survived by her sons, Larry Lay and wife Teresa; John Lay and wife Jill; grandchildren Allison Popov and husband Leo; Celeste Lay; Cindy Hahn and husband Steve of Portland, Oregon; Carl Lay and wife Paige; Missy Sharpe and husband Rob; Sally Allen and husband DJ; Stephanie Duncan and husband Clayton; Robert Spurck and wife Katie; great-grandchildren Nikolay Popov, Tatum Lay, Campbell Duncan, Parker Duncan and Sophie Spurck. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Emma Helgren McCord.
Alice was raised in a depression-era Texas farming family and was no stranger to hard work. Shortly after Alice was born, her family moved to a farm near Pawnee, Texas where Alice would go to school as well as help the family plant and pick cotton and help her mother milk 21 cows twice daily as a youngster. She moved to Georgetown in 1934 and worked in a café making $3.00 a week. Alice moved to Austin in 1937 and worked at a café where she met Wallace. They fell in love and were married in Waco in 1942 and lived there a short time. Wallace and Alice moved back to Austin, living on 15th St. just north of the Capitol and Mom worked at Yaring's downtown. In 1947, they moved to 2405 Sabine Street adjacent to the UT campus to begin raising a family of future Longhorns (both of her sons and all eight of her grandchildren became UT Austin graduates). She balanced her homemaker/mother duties with various volunteer activities while always finding ways to add resources to the family budget. During the mid 1950s, one of her most innovative ideas was that of the "West Austin Egg Lady" delivering fresh eggs daily directly to customers' homes with her young sons sitting on the back seat in charge of breakage control. During the time Larry and John played baseball, Mom was in charge of the concession stand for the Delwood Optimist's Pony/Colt league. After her husband's death, Alice returned to retail working at Bealls and for many years in the handbag department of Dillard's department store at Hancock Center making many friends along the way. Based on her upbringing and parents' influence, Alice was a very spiritual person. She was a member of Shettles (Hyde Park) Methodist Church for almost fifty years, devoting many hours as a volunteer in its food pantry program and serving on the administrative board while enjoying the weekly dominoes game on Mondays. She was an avid bowler, fisherman, baseball fan and had a specific interest in her children and grandchildren's activities. Alice also had love and conversation for all animals. On the farm as a young child the luxury of having pets was absent. However, as an adult, she made up for those lost years. If you were a dog or a cat, Alice's house was where you wanted to be. Her pets were great companions and brought Alice much joy through the years. Alice was a member of the Austin Scandinavian Club and Tarrytown United Methodist Church.
Alice was widowed at the young age of 53 years. She was denied the years of retirement with Wallace toward which they had looked forward. She filled the next 44 years with work, devotion to her grandchildren and church. Her young years on the farm made her strong and prepared her to live life to its fullest regardless of circumstances. She was a great mother long before she was a grandmother and great grandmother. Her family would like to thank all of Alice's caregivers who enabled her to remain in her home until recently, and the caring staff of Family Eldercare. Also, a special thanks to the doctors and staff of Austin Diagnostic Clinic who have cared for Alice over the last 40 years and facilitated her long and healthy life. And recently, thanks to the staff of Summit of NW Hills and St. David's North Austin Medical Center for their care and attention.
Visitation will be from 5-7pm Friday, July 20 at Weed-Corley-Fish, 3125 N Lamar with services Saturday, July 21 at 10am in the chapel of Weed-Corley-Fish with Vernon Helgren, Jr. officiating. Burial will be at Capital Memorial Park, Pflugerville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Family Eldercare, the Humane Society, or the charity of your choice.