Alice Winters

Alice Lenore Winters, of Tacoma, Washington, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2026, at the age of 93.

Alice was born on January 13, 1933, in Tacoma, WA, the oldest child of Edward Russell and Helen (Swanson) Scearce. She grew up along Spanaway Lake and graduated from Clover Park High School. After earning her education degree from Central Washington College, Alice spent a year in Mississippi as a graduate fellow with the Danforth Foundation, where she became involved in the early Civil Rights movement.
In 1959, Alice married Kenneth Winters, and raised two sons, Todd and Ross. Alice devoted more than 40 years to education, teaching in the Puyallup, White Swan, Sunnyside, and Tacoma School Districts. Teaching was an important part of her life, and through the years she touched the lives of countless students.

After retiring from teaching, Alice moved closer to her son Todd’s family in Illinois, and became a housemother of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She was very active and made many friends in the Carbondale community. After nearly 20 years in Illinois, she moved back to her home of Tacoma to be closer to her son Ross’ family, as well as the Scearce family.
Alice was a lifelong Methodist and was deeply involved in her church. She spent many summers as a counselor at the Methodist Camp at Ocean Park, Washington. She loved to travel, socialize, and participate in outdoor activities. Alice was a natural storyteller who could bring people together with a good story and a laugh. Above all, she cherished time spent with her family and took great joy in playing games and making memories with them.

Alice is survived by her sons, Todd (Susan) Winters and Ross (Julie) Winters; grandchildren Chelsea, Shelby (Makayla), Sloan, and Luke; great-grandchildren Charizma, Zayden, Sayla, and Alexius; and great-great-granddaughter Nina, who was born just one week before Alice’s passing.
She is also survived by her brother David; numerous nieces and nephews; her beloved “daughter,” Orlonda; her “sons” at Alpha Gamma Rho; and many friends, former students, and others whose lives she touched throughout her long and remarkable life.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Helen; her sister, Beth; and her brothers, Gene and Jim.

Alice will be remembered for her generous spirit, her love of people, her stories and laughter, her dedication to education, and the many lives she touched along the way. She leaves behind a family and communities of friends who will miss her dearly and carry her memory forward.

A memorial service will be held at 1pm on October 23 at Week’s Dryer Mortuary followed by interment at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Parkland, WA. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the Tacoma Education Dream Fund, Alzheimer’s Association, or Franciscan Hospice House, University Place, WA.