Shue, Alice L. 1938-2025 St. Joseph, Mo.
Alice Lorine (West) Shue, 86, St. Joseph, passed away peacefully at her home on June 11, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Alice was born Aug. 27, 1938, to Kenneth Driver West Sr. and Mary Pauline (Miller) West, both of St. Joseph.
Alice attended St. Patrick’s grade school and graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in 1956. Following high school, Alice attended St. Mary College, in Leavenworth, Kansas. In September 1958, she met Lawrence Edward Shue of St. Joseph. They were joined in holy matrimony on September 5, 1959.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband; both of her parents; brother, Kenneth Driver West II and sister-in-law, Marilyn West, both of St. Joseph; and sister-in-law, Jo Anne Selby.
Alice is survived by her sister-in-law, Elsie Downey (Ed); five children: Paula Winfrey (Dana), of St. Joseph, Laura O’Hara (Michael), of Muncie, Indiana, Lawrence Shue (Kathleen), of Chugiak, Alaska, Cory Shue (Bridget), of Wathena, Kansas, and Christian Shue (Carolyn) of Muncie; Seven nieces and nephews: Lisa West, Debbie Nanneman, Tami Cerny-Cordez, Stacy Downey, Candy Bennett, Dawn Marriott, and Eddie Downey; 14 grandchildren: Bear Green (Mae), Jared Green (Crystal), Jillian Parisoff (Tyler), Dana Winfrey (Mary), Austin Nelson, Erin Shue, Lyrik Guemmer (August), Grant Shue, Gehrig Shue, Graycen Shue, Christopher Shue (Angi), Bradley Shue, Katherine Shue and Addison Shue; 14 great-grand- children, Kennedy Green, Leia Johnson, Lilly Harpring, Madison Green, Jaynee Green, Ryder Green, Quinn Green, Nova Green, Gemma Parisoff, Henley Parisoff, Lyla Shue, Ella Shue, Llewyn Guemmer, and soon-to-be born, Alice Guemmer; one life-long close friend: Mary Swafford.
Alice was one of the best humans ever to walk this earth. She was a devoted wife and an even more extraordinary mother, both to her own children and to the many bonus children who were lucky enough to be loved by her. She was the kind of mother who made you feel safe, seen, and unconditionally loved, and she managed to do it with equal parts kindness, wisdom, and humor.
In addition to being the proud and loving matriarch to a large and lively brood she was mother to countless fur children (who, although they were wildly spoiled and gloriously untrained, never doubted they were cherished).
Possessing a quick wit and a writer’s soul, Alice used her gift with words throughout her professional life. She spent her early career at the St. Joseph News-Press. Later she worked at The Atchison County Mail, in Rock Port, Missouri. She finished her career at Missouri Western State University, where she worked as an administrative assistant in the Communication Studies & Theatre Department until her retirement in 2005.
Outside of work, Alice gave of herself to her community through Meals on Wheels, hospice volunteering, and her deeply meaningful service at Mir House. She was also a loyal parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe, in St. Joseph.
When she wasn’t giving to others, Alice loved a good game, especially cards and Mahjong with her many friends. Her most treasured games were with her lifelong best friends, Helen Rhyner and Mary Swafford, who shared decades of laughter, stories, and friendship. Alice expressed her creativity through painting, filling canvases, and the homes of friends and family, with her joyful, heartfelt artwork. Her paintings continue to brighten the walls (and moods) of those lucky enough to have received one.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to Mosaic Hospice (www.mlcfoundation.com/donate/), whose care team provided Alice with the same love, dignity, and kindness that she gave so freely throughout her life.
Natural Farewell under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.
Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
