December 13, 2022

Linn County News

Published December 14, 2022

Alice Christeen McNabb, 96, of Parsons, died at 2:35 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. She was born in Worland, Mo., on Nov. 13, 1926, to Olen and Mary (Jacobs) Jackson. Her family moved several times throughout her childhood during the Great Depression, but she graduated from high school while living in Pleasanton, Kan.

Alice married Henry I. McNabb on Aug. 16, 1946, in Paola, Kan., and began her life as a farmer’s wife and homemaker, both in rural Mound City and later at Trading Post. She and Henry were known for their flexibility in making homemade ice cream or homemade donuts on a moment’s notice; she was an excellent baker. Alice was also quite talented at playing cards and other games.

Participation in farm life included being part of 4-H, a member of a Home Demonstration Unit (HDU) and The Grange. Alice planted and tended a large garden each year from which she canned hundreds of jars of vegetables. She was an outstanding seamstress, making most of the family’s clothes; she also excelled at hand quilting. Nearing retirement, she took up oil painting.

As the children became older, Alice went to work for the Observer Enterprise, now the Linn County News, where she worked as a typesetter, typist, bookkeeper, compositor, and small press operator. She retired from there after 26 years.

She was a member of the First Christian Church of Pleasanton, where she taught Sunday school for 40 years, served as treasurer, and was a member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship. She was also a district representative for the Disciples of Christ. She later joined the First Presbyterian Church of Parsons. At the Presbyterian Manor she sat on the residents’ council, serving two years as president, and started and led exercise classes for the Assisted Living residents.

Alice was preceded in death in 1972 by her loving husband Henry (who liked to hold her little finger as they walked); her parents; brother Edward Dean Jackson; and sister Betty Louise McNabb.

She is survived by her three children, David H. McNabb, PhD. and his wife Irene Obrok of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Ann Kennett-Charles and her husband Hugh of Parsons; and Karen Hawkins and her husband Mackie of Cumming, Ga. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Tyler Kennett, Parsons; Dustie Hawkins of Cumming, Ga.; Kerrie Hawkins of Cumming, Ga.; four bonus-grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at the Presbyterian Manor Chapel on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, at 10 a.m. A graveside service will be held at Woodland Cemetery, Mound City, Kan., at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Labette Emergency Assistance Center or Presbyterian Church Angel Shoes, and these may be left at or mailed to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.