Muriel Alice Garms

Our Mother passed away at Willamette View Retirement Community on Friday 6/9/17. She went peacefully in the company of her daughter Lynette.
Alice was born on 3/20/24 to Hilda and Earl Bower in Worland, Wyoming. She had 2 sisters, Evelyn and Carole and 4 brothers, Vernon, Kenneth, Roger and George.She was preceeded in death by all of her siblings except her youngest brother, George.
Alice married Gene Garms on 6/4/48 in Worland, Wyomimg. Her marriage lasted almost 69 years.
Alice graduated from Worland High School in 1942 and began College at The Colorado Women’s College in Denver, Colorado graduating with an Associate in Science degree in 1944. She then attended The Iowa State College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree with a certification in Textiles and Clothing in 1946. Later in life she returned to school earning a Masters Degree in Education from West Texas State University in 1971.
Alice taught Home Economics in Wisconsin from 1949 to 1951 while Gene was attending graduate school. She was then a full time Mom and home maker raising daughter Lynette born in 1952 and son Alan born in 1954 until returning to work in 1971. She taught Home Economics in Adelaide, South Australia from 1971 to 1972.
Alice was always very skilled as a seamstress sewing much of the clothing for both of her children as well as clothing for her 4 grandchildren. She sewed Halloween costumes for many of the grandchildren. One costume, a very cute pumpkin outfit, was worn for years by  a number of grandchildren and passed down to great grandchildren where it is still in use.
Alice always loved to play card and board games. Her favorite card game was bridge. She and Gene played bridge as a couple, but she was also very fond of hosting and attending bridge clubs with other women. I remember well her setting up card tables with tablecloths and matching napkins to host her bridge club. She always had bowls of “bridge mix” which consisted of chocolate coated nuts and raisins much coveted by me. She always admonished me to stay out of the bridge mix, a warning I Rarely obeyed.

Alice was also a great fan of the board game, Scrabble. She was always up for a spirited game of scrabble and traveled with a “travel scrabble” edition in case the opportunity to play presented itself. If she felt an potential opponent was not up to challenge her, she would play for them as well as for herself.

Alice was an avid traveler accompanying husband Gene on the trip of a lifetime travelling overland from Bangkok, Thailand to England passing thru Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France and Belgium. She kept a detailed diary of this trip with observations of the people and scenery she observed. Alice passed her love of travel onto her grandchildren taking them with her on trips to Hong Kong, Japan, England and Ireland. She continued to travel by herself after Gene decided he was done with international travel.

Alice enjoyed collecting beautiful things and over the years amassed collections of Wedgewood Christmas plates, thimbles, antique perfume bottles and tea cups.

Alice is survived by her brother, George Bower and children Lynette Geneva of Lake Stevens, Washington and Alan Garms of Richmond, Texas. Grandchildren include Kelly Miller, Mark Geneva, Laurie Geneva and Aven Garms. Great Grandchildren include Ashley Miller, Baustyn Geneva, Cohyn Geneva, Addyson Willis ( due any day now) and great great grand child Tyson Banfro.