Alice Marie (Cubbon) Hamaker

On June 8, 1932 at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall Michigan, Percy and Josephine Cubbon (Lines) with their son Jack, welcomed Alice Marie Cubbon into this world. The little family happily lived on Green Street until Alice was three years old when her father died unexpectedly from pneumonia. From then on, Alice’s mother Jo supported Alice and Jack by teaching school and waitressing at Schuler’s on the weekends.

Alice’s childhood was filled with neighborhood baseball games, time spent on her grandparents’ farm, and following her big brother on countless adventures.  As she began high school, Alice’s favorite companion was her beloved dog Yankee Doodle Dandy Junior Rufus Cubbon. As a forever dog, Yankee would meet Alice at her locker every day so they could walk home from school together.

By her junior year, someone else had his eye on Alice. It was that year that Eugene (“Gene”) Hamaker asked her to go to the football game. He was persistent and eventually wore her down, and they were an item for the next 72 years.

Alice graduated from Marshall High School in 1950. She followed her mother into the field of education, graduating from Western Michigan College in 1954. Following the completion of her degree, she and Gene were married on June 26, 1954 at the Presbyterian Church in Marshall.

In 1958, they welcomed Elizabeth, their first daughter. Two years later Karen was born, and the family was complete in 1963 with the birth of their third daughter, Janet. Alice loved her girls with all of her heart. Life as a mother, and later a grandmother, was a source of great joy for Alice. She was always ready for an outing, whether it was a vacation, or going out to eat.  Teaching was Alice’s other passion. She taught in Marshall Public Schools for over 30 years, earning two Master's degrees during her tenure. She loved to hear from former students and colleagues, even many years after her retirement.

On August 12, 2022, a beautiful summer day, Alice passed away peacefully at the age of 90. We will all miss how special she made us feel.

Alice is survived by her girls, Elizabeth (Mike) Curtis of Williamston, Karen (Mark) Blodger of Lowell, and Janet (Jeff) Williams of Ada; her grandchildren, Brad (Anna) Curtis, Megan Curtis, Ian (Tory) Blodger, Audrey Blodger, Ben Williams (fiancee Elizabeth Sully), Anna (Caleb) Irvin, and Cerria (Ryan) Rozeboom. She will also be lovingly remembered by her great-grandchildren Helen Curtis, Michael Curtis, Eloise Beeney and Theodore Blodger. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Jack, and her husband Gene.

Alice and her family will be forever grateful to Ramona Benham and Sharon Robinson for their love and support over the last ten years of her life.

Visitation for Alice will take place on Friday, August 26, 2022 from 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 723 US Hwy 27 N Marshall, Michigan 49068.

Funeral services will follow the visitation at 12:00 PM at the funeral home with Rev. Lori Sykes officiating. Everyone is invited to join the family for a luncheon following the service in the Kempf Funeral Home Reception Hall.

Interment will take place at a later date at Oakridge Cemetery in Marshall, Michigan.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Fountain Clinic, 111 N. Jefferson St. # 1, Marshall, Michigan 49068.

Please visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guest book or to leave the family condolences.