Alice Elaine McDermott, age 85, a lifelong resident of the Wallace and Wellfleet communities, passed away May 1, 2014 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.
Alice was born August 6, 1928 on a farm near Sutherland, NE to William Henry and Lottie Blanche (Mapes) Simmons. She graduated from 8th grade in 1942 at Wallace, NE. She graduated from high school in 1946 from the University Of Nebraska School Of Agriculture in Curtis, NE; she was an Aggie through and through!
After graduation Alice worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. in Denver, CO. She married Douglas Jay McDermott on November 14, 1948 in North Platte, NE. They made their home on their ranch west of Wellfleet. Alice was a loving mother, grandmother and wife. She appreciated the ranch life and was very proud to be a Nebraskan. She graciously served as chairwoman for her local Cowbelles chapter. She and Doug enjoyed playing cards, were beautiful dancers and loved traveling. Those travels allowed her to begin an extensive black pottery collection from Mexico and the Southwest. She also enjoyed antiques and horse racing. Her love for architecture and design was realized when she and Doug built their home at Lake Maloney in 1983. Her children and grandchildren were the center of her life.
Alice is survived by her children Dayle (Ron) Thompson of Wallace, NE, Bruce (fiancé Erica Niles) McDermott of Wellfleet, NE, and Dawn McDermott of Ft. Worth, TX; 4 grandchildren Tonya (fiancé Justin Stockall) Hoelting of Scott City, KS, Darcy (Ted) Howard of Oakley, KS, Justin (Jamie) Thompson of Lincoln, NE, and Thad (Lucinda) McDermott of Wellfleet, NE; 5 great grandchildren J.D. Draper, Paige Hoelting, Taylor and Rylee Thompson, and Jaylyn McDermott; a sister Gloria Frey of Valparaiso, NE; sister-in-law Barbara (Dale) Ness of Dent, MN; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Doug; parents William and Lottie Simmons; in-laws John and Violet McDermott; brothers Stuart and Warren Simmons; sisters-in-law Phyllis Burton, Betty (Ryan) Whitver and Beverly Jurgens; brothers-in-law Kelvey Frey, Dallas Ryan and Glenn Jurgens; nephews Brad Frey and John Chris Jurgens; and niece Karen (Ryan) Johnson.
Memorials are suggested in her name or to the Lincoln County Fair Board for the 4H Program and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday May 5, 2014 at Floral Lawns Memorials Gardens with Randy Jurgens officiating. Family and friends are invited to attend a luncheon to celebrate Alice’s life following the service at the Holiday Inn Express in North Platte. Visitation will be from noon until 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.