Alice Lines Skousen

SKOUSEN, Alice Lines Born in Pima, AZ Aug. 17, 1908. Passed away in Mesa, AZ Jan. 18, 2007. Alice Lines Skousen, an Arizona pioneer, passed away at her home in Mesa, AZ, Thursday, January 18, 2007. Alice was born to a pioneer family in the Gila Valley of Arizona. She was the daughter of Joseph H. Lines and Elizabeth Ferrin, and the 10th child in a family of 13. Her grandmother was Jeanetta McBride, who at the age of 16 walked across the plains with the Martin handcart company. Alice had the same strong faith and fortitude as her mother and grandmother. Alice was blessed with good health and had a long and fruitful life. She celebrated her 98th birthday at her home in Mesa, August 17, 2006. Alice was a homemaker, and an elementary teacher. She was a very good student. Her senior year of high school, she was called into the office of the Gila Academy, where she was asked if she would become a college freshman. The academy had just become a junior college and they needed students. This she did. May of 1926, she graduated from high school as the Valedictorian and the same time finished her freshman year at the Academy. After her high school graduation, she took and passed the teacher certification test. She was hired to teach in Franklin, AZ in the middle of her 2nd year at Gila Jr. College. Thus began her teaching career. She taught grades 1 thru 4 her first year of teaching. She met her husband Joseph N. Skousen in May 1928. They were married December of 1928 by Spencer W. Kimball. They were married for 68 years, until he passed away October 1997 at the age of 95. They both taught school in Arizona until moving to Nevada in the late 30s. They first lived in Caliente, then moved to Overton in the 1940s. Alice taught in Overton through the war years and in the 50s. Many who live in the Moapa Valley will remember her as their 1st grade teacher. Alice moved back to Arizona in 1954. She continued to teach while attending school at ASU in Tempe, AZ. There she received her degree in Elementary Education, graduating with honors. Her hobbies were sewing and young people. She was a talented actress and gave many readings. She was in her first community play at the age of 7. She was also good at writing verse. She was always the gracious lady and outstanding mother. With all her duties as a mother and teacher she still kept a spotless house. She will be missed by her many friends, nieces, nephews, children and grandchildren. Alice was member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many positions working with the youth, beginning as a teacher in the primary when she was only 14. She was Stake Primary Pres., Stake YWMIA Pres., and Stake Jr. Sunday School Coordinator. She and her husband (Joseph) served a two year mission to Saskatchewan Canada in 1974. Upon their return from their mission, they worked in the genealogy library and as Temple workers in the Mesa Temple for over 15 years. She is survived by her 3 children, Orval N. (Vonda) Skousen of Orem UT; daughters, Alene (Lynn() Bowler of Overton, NV and Denna (Melvin) Martineau of Mesa, AZ. Alice was the only living member of her family of 13 brothers and sisters at the time of her passing. She has 18 grandchildren, 2 deceased and 6 foster grandchildren; 79 great-grand children with 1 on the way; 13 foster great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren with 2 on the way. A viewing will be held at Bunker's Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ from 6 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 21st. Funeral services will be held on Monday January 22 in the LDS Poinsettia ward building on the corner of Broadway and Solomon in Mesa at 10:00 a.m., with visitation one-hour prior to services. The interment will be in the Pima Cemetery. Sign the Guest Book at eastvalleytribune.com
This obituary was originally published in the East Valley Tribune.