Alice Marberry Limpus, 96, passed away around 11:30 p.m., December 7, 2016, from pneumonia, at Manor Court/Liberty Village of Carbondale. After a brief stay at the hospital, she spent the last days of her life at Manor Court where she received excellent care, and recognized and received many compassionate friends and family, and her longtime home caregivers. She was circled with love and expert care until the end.

Alice Elizabeth Marberry Limpus, the youngest child of Beulah Lindsey Marberry and William Leonard Marberry, was born April 1, 1920, in the family home on South Poplar St, Carbondale, Illinois. Her three older siblings preceded her in death. They are: Robert Mason Marberry (1907 - 1968) of St. Joseph, Michigan, Mary Caroline Marberry Swindell (1911-1994) of Carbondale, Illinois, and William Marvin Marberry (1913 - 1984) of Carbondale, Illinois. Alice married Ernest Kenneth Limpus (1919-2004) in 1941. Together they had 3 children: Bonnie Limpus Cumings (1944 -) of Seattle, WA, Robert William Limpus (1947 - 2011) and Scott Bryant Limpus (1950-2014). Alice's daughter Bonnie has one child: Jacqueline Cumings of Seattle. Son Scott had three children, living in Guatemala with his wife Maria for over 40 years: Asa Limpus-Sipac (1981 -), Joseph Leonard "Lenny" Limpus-Sipac (1985 - ), and Mary Alice Limpus-Sipac (1988 - ). Mary Alice Limpus-Sipac has one son, William Andrew, and Lenny and his wife Angelina Barreno have a daughter, Lea Amaya.

Alice grew up in Carbondale, graduated from Carbondale Community High School, and graduated from Southern Illinois University. She and her husband Ernie achieved Real Estate Licenses and opened Limpus Realty in Carbondale around 1957. Together they grew a successful business. She and Ernie divorced in 1968. She then completed her Bachelor's degree at SIU in Elementary Education. After moving to the Chicago area to teach school, she quickly returned to her specialty, Real Estate. She excelled in this career in the Chicago area, becoming a top sales person and achieving much success. Then, mission accomplished, she returned home to live in Carbondale where she could enjoy the beautiful area she calls home and have a dog. She had many dogs and walking the dog every day was a big part of her entire life, contributing to her good health and longevity. Her last dog Sky, scampered many miles around Campus Lake with her.

During the last 20 years of her life, she found loving companionship with Gerald Wayne "Red" Elders and they traveled the world over and maintained a joyful, active lifestyle throughout their 70's and 80's into 90's. They had both grown up in Southern Illinois and had met earlier when they were in their 20's. He found her again, and they reunited at just the right time. He moved back to Southern Illinois and gave her a home and a life together that they cherished. They were wonderful companions together and they celebrated a beautiful retirement together.

Alice was a brave, happy, positive person. She was a woman of great Faith, and a member of the congregation of First Christian Church (Disciples in Christ) in Carbondale for her entire life, attending nearly every service and event even in the last few years of her life, with the help of her daughter and granddaughter. Her life was filled with fun, friends, activities, church and family. In addition to FCC, she was a member of Antique Club, Garden Club, Woman's Club, Jackson Country Club and a myriad of other activities. During the last decade of her life, Alice could be found dancing and singing at Carbondale's Senior Center with many friends and wonderful, compassionate care in the day program. They all loved her very much. In fact, anyone who encountered Alice at any point in her life, can attest that she touched their lives with her special spark! She was healthy and active into her nineties, maintaining good health for her entire long life. Alice spread joy and beauty wherever she went, and she will be deeply missed by all.

Funeral services for Alice will be held at 1:00 p.m. at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Carbondale on Thursday, December 15, 2016. Visitation will commence at 12:00 p.m. with the service to follow at 1 p.m. After the service, all guests are invited to share refreshments and fellowship in the church dining room. Burial will be later at Oakland Cemetery.. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For more information, please visit www.pettettfuneralhome.com.