Alice Fern Rigby Carlson: Obituary

Alice Fern Rigby Carlson, 94, died peacefully on October 19, 2018, in Blue Ridge, GA with her family at her side.  Born in Everett, WA, on October 29, 1923, to Donald and Fern (Brown) Rigby, she was the oldest of five children.  She attended Reed College in Portland, OR for one year and the University of Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD for one year.  She met Arthur Carlson in Seattle, and they married in 1945 during his wartime service in the U.S. Navy.  Following the war, they made Anacortes, WA, their home where they had three children.

Arthur’s work in the building products industry moved the family to Rock Hill, SC, in 1963, to New City, NY, in 1969 and to Marietta, GA in 1970.

Alice recently moved to Blue Ridge Assisted Living where she continued to be known for her vibrant and caring personality.  Alice is survived by daughter Janice (Gale) Glascock of Blue Ridge; three siblings:  Enid Sherman of NH; Iris Broad and Jim (June) Rigby of Everett, WA; sister-in-law Margret Rigby of Portland, OR; daughter-in-law, Peg Carlson of Marietta; six grandchildren:  Rebecca Gale Glascock of Denver, CO; Chris Glascock, Derek Carlson, Lisa Carlson, and Jennifer Carlson of Atlanta; and Nikki Carlson of Auckland, NZ; and cousin David Rigby of Washington DC.  Alice was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Arthur Carlson, her brother, Donald Rigby, her son Dennis Carlson, and her daughter, Edith Carlson.

Alice was a sixty-four-year member of P.E.O., philanthropic educational organization, whose mission is supporting women in post-secondary education through scholarships, grants, awards, and student loans.  Alice was initiated into the P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter W in Anacortes, WA on April 4, 1954.   During her years with PEO, Alice was part of several different P.E.O. chapters across America, getting involved with the work in the chapters where she lived.  Alice’s passion for P.E.O. and its goals led her to be elected president of the Georgia State Chapter in 1992.  Most recently, she was an active member of P.E.O. Chapter BE of Marietta.

Following years of volunteer work, Alice joined Harry Norman Realtors in Marietta in 1970 until her retirement in 2003 at age 80.  Alice’s commitment to her family, church, and work exemplifies her ability to successfully blend her varied interest and passions for living a full life.

 

A memorial service for Alice is planned for 11am Friday, October 26^th at Faith Presbyterian Church, 56 Mountain Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513 with Dr. Jim Simpson officiating.

The family will hold a visitation from 2-3 pm Saturday, October 27^th in the library at First Presbyterian Church, 189 Church Street, Marietta, GA 30060

A private graveside service will follow with family in attendance.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to one of the programs Alice supported

• PEO

To “P.E.O. Foundation” in memory of Alice F Carlson on memo line

Mail to:

P.E.O. Foundation

3700 Grand Avenue

Des Moines, IA  50312

 

• Faith Presbyterian Church new sanctuary

To “Faith Presbyterian Church” Alice Carlson Memorial Fund on memo line

Mail to:

Faith Presbyterian Church

PO Box 2668

Blue Ridge, GA 30513.