Name: Visitation for Alice Marie Cunningham
Start: 2023-06-16T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service - Pere Marquette Chapel

Alice Marie Cunningham, 86, of Hart, passed away Saturday, June 10, 2023. She was born June 26, 1936, in Suttons Bay, the daughter of Ferdinand and Marion (Wahl) Eckerle.

Alice attended St. Michael's Catholic Elementary and graduated from Suttons Bay High School in 1954. She attended Central Michigan University and earned her bachelor's degree in home economics and education in 1958. She also attended the University of Wyoming in 1967. She was employed as a home economics teacher for 35 years, starting for Hart High School in 1958 and retiring in 1993.

Alice was very involved in the local school system, including junior class adviser, responsible for the Junior-Senior Banquet, Junior-Senior Prom, Sweethearts Ball, homecoming floats, Future Homemakers of America advisor, sponsored FHA State President, sports program support, and ticket taker for football and basketball games. She was also involved with the Michigan Education Association, serving as president of the Hart Education Association for several years, chief negotiator, a bargaining team member with several multi-year contracts, and was the chairperson of MEA retired 13-B which serves Oceana, Mason and Manistee counties. She was a lifetime member of the Michigan Education Association and the National Education Association, and she attended the MEA Representative Assembly as a retired member and the NEA convention as a delegate numerous times.

Alice received many awards, such as MEA Outstanding Education Leadership Award 1993, Hart High School Athletic Department Award for Dedicated Service 1975, Hart High School Student Body Recognition Award upon retirement 1993, the Hart Education Association Recognition Award for 35 years of service, and the Michigan Education Association Recognition Award for 35 years of service.

For 34 years, her home economics classroom was right next to her husband's history classroom in Hart High School.

Alice was also active in the local Hart community, serving as assistant voter clerk responsible for voter registration rolls, and was head of poll workers responsible for all Hart city elections for over 10 years. She was also a member of St. Gregory's Catholic Church since September 1958, and was head of the funeral luncheon committee for many years.

Alice also had many interests, including Christmas and everything that went with it; she would decorate not only her home, but also her classroom at school. She also liked working outdoors with her flowers, especially her many rose bushes, and traveling; she and her husband, Jim, traveled throughout the U.S., from Miami to San Francisco, Los Angeles to New York City, and many points in between.

On Aug. 21, 1965, she married James "Jim" Cunningham, and he survives her after 57 years of marriage. She is also survived by her brothers, Albert Eckerle, Jim (Shirley) Eckerle, and Tom Eckerle; sisters-in-law, Donna Eckerle and Mary (Howard) Sand; nieces and nephews, Leisa (Andy) Hankins, Chris (Gretchen) Eckerle, Jeff (Lisa) Eckerle, Brian Eckerle, Kirk Eckerle, Emily (Matt) Howell, Stephanie (Matthew) McFadden, Jeff (Sue) Attwood, Dale Attwood, Laurie (Jeff) Bensen, Sherry (Doug) Teggatz, Julie (Brad) Boyle, and Doug (Janna) Sand; and 31 great nieces and nephews; and 4 great grand nieces and nephews.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Gerald and Edward; sisters-in-law Bernadette Eckerle and Margery Attwood; and brother-in-law Donald Cunningham.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 17, 2023, at St. Gregory Catholic Church, 214 S. Peach St., Hart, with Fr. Phillip Sliwinski presiding, the family will receive friends one hour prior to Mass, with a luncheon immediately following. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m., Friday, June 16, 2023, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, 2370 N. 72nd Ave., Hart, MI with a praying of the Holy Rosary beginning at 7 p.m. Interment will be in Hart Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oceana County Community Foundation, St. Gregory Catholic Church, or the Crystal Valley Care Fund.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Ludington Daily News from Jun. 13 to Jun. 14, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Alice Cunningham

Sponsored by Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service - Pere Marquette Chapel.

11 Entries

Alyson Baker

October 9, 2023

Mrs. Cunningham is a cornerstone in my life. My love of foods and food chemistry came when I asked Mrs. Cunningham about sugars. She put a carbon chain on the blackboard, explaining the complexity of sugars. I was hooked. She taught me everything I know about sewing. There was a time in my life when I sewed all my family clothing, except socks. Through cooking and sewing I learned about fractions, measuring, measuring, measuring. I use the skills that I learned every day. My condolences to her family. Mrs. Cunningham was a great lady.

Randy Lydens

June 16, 2023

Jim,

So sorry to hear of the loss of Alice. I didn't know her but I remember your patience - and your Ford Falcon with the bunny tail-lights.
May God grant you His comfort and peace in this difficult time.

Janice Stover Thompson

June 16, 2023

I had Mrs. Cunningham for my home economics teacher for two years at Hart High School in the mid-sixties. She was a great teacher and a special person. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family at this difficult time.

Janice Stover Thompson

Trina Pehrson (Merten)

June 15, 2023

Mrs “C”
What a great teacher! Every time I am in the kitchen baking or cooking I use something she taught me!! Her class was one of my absolute favorites.
She loved to tease a few of us in class. That was when you knew you were one of her favorites plus she picked you to do the grocery shopping for class recipes!
Many many fun memories!

May The Lord Bless and comfort Mrs. “C”s family today and know in your hearts she touched many kids through her years!

Tammy Ginther-Parker

June 14, 2023

I loved having Mrs. and Mr. Cunningham as teachers . Their dedication to the school and students was incredible. I learned so much in their classes. Mrs. Cunningham had this special way of bringing out the creativity in her students and encouraged us to try new things, expand our abilities, and learn something from everything we did, good or bad. She even conned the admin. in to letting her take our senior foods class on a field trip to her house for half a day to just snack and relax. I loved hearing her laugh with us. More likely it was "at us "for our immaturity, but she never made us feel that way . I am thankful to have had Mrs. C. as my teacher, my mentor, and inspiration.

Jerianne (Hallack) Block

June 14, 2023

Both of you were very special influences on my life. Great teachers who taught me a lot. I have many fond memories of you both at Hart High, and I enjoyed saying hello every time I saw you. My deepest sympathy from one of your students at HHS, class of 1970. My brother still talks about how Mrs. Cunningham taught him how to wrap a Christmas present with only 3 pieces of tape.

Karen studer

June 13, 2023

Alice meant a lot to me. She was my teacher and mentor. She was a friend in my life and patron at my Beauty Shop for many years. She did so much in school activities for all the students, with banquets and school dances. She will be missed by many.

Joanne Beyer

June 13, 2023

To the Family of Alice Cunningham--I am so sorry for your loss of Alice. I had her for all of my High School years. She was very kind and sweet. Alice will be sadly missed. Alice, you were always so kind to me in your class. Rest in Peace.

Cathy Pyke (was Lindgren)

June 13, 2023

In loving memory of a wonderful person. Had many many many memories of her and was a teachers pet in which I enjoyed for the most part .
She will be missed

Laura Ream

June 13, 2023

She was my 9th grade teacher. She really cared about her students and would go out of her way to help each and every one. She had a very kind heart.

Stacey Ramsey

June 13, 2023

I am sorry that I can not be at the visitation to honor this wonderful woman and all she has done for MEA, teachers and students. She always had a smile and was a tremendous wealth of information to help to anyone who needed it. Thank you Alice for all the memories. Peace.

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