MCALISTER, Vivian Amelia

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ March 12, 2010 Vivian Amelia Black McAlister, 86, loving mother and grandmother died Monday, March 8, 2010, in Springerville. She was born Sept. 4, 1923, in Ucolo, Utah, to James and Mildred Black. Vivian met her husband Raymond Dee McAlister on a working ranch and they were married Oct. 19, 1941. She followed her husband Raymond to Kansas City, Mo., in 1949 with little girls while he attended art school. They moved back to Monticello, Utah, in 1953 and had another daughter. In 1955 they had a son who passed away shortly after birth. She moved to Page with her family in May of 1960. Vivian had lived in Arizona since then. Vivian's loves were her husband Raymond, her children, all of her many grandchildren, baseball and the Cubs, wrestling, flowers and jewelry and shoes. She enjoyed ceramics, bowling, cooking, canning, gardening and watching grandsons play baseball. Vivian was petite and feminine but a very strong-willed person. Although she was very shy and introverted, she always enjoyed her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 66 years Raymond Dee McAlister; son Raymond Dennis McAlister; daughter Judith Pearl Avery; grandson Gentry Safely (passed away in 1986); sisters Vera Fritz and Maxine Frost and brother Bob Black. She is survived by three daughters Vivian Rae Bailey of Salt Lake City, Utah; Patricia Lee Garms of Eagar; and Sherry Aline Scot of Phoenix; brother Tom Black, Monticello, Utah; 12 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral service were held Thursday, March 11, at Life of Christ Fellowship in Eagar with visitation at 12:30 p.m. Interment followed at the National Cemetery Friday, March 12, with her husband in Phoenix. Leave an online condolence at www.burnhammortuary.com Burnham Mortuary of Eagar handled arrangements.