CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Alice Ann Prickett, aged 87, passed away on July 15, 2024. Born in San Jose, Illinois, Alice was the youngest daughter of Earl and Fay Weber. She married Thomas Prickett in 1958, and together they built a creative life in Urbana, Illinois.
Alice is survived by her loving daughters, Laura (Wes) Curtis of Champaign, and Mary Beth (Robert) Burke of Saint Joseph, Michigan. She was the proud grandmother of five: Thomas Curtis (Lauren), Sarah Curtis (Michael), Rachel (Jay) McBeth, Luke Burke, and Sean Burke. Alice also leaves behind a niece, two nephews, and numerous grand nieces and grand nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Jewell Laffey, and her husband, Tom.
A graduate of San Jose High School (1954) and the University of Illinois (1958) with a BA in Fine and Applied Art, Alice had an interesting career as a Scientific Artist for the Illinois State Natural History Survey, the Department of Entomology, and the School of Life Sciences at the University of Illinois. She was an illustrator in The Fishes of Illinois Reference Book (1979).
Alice was a lifetime member of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, First United Methodist Church, and Tri Delta Sorority. She found great joy in cats, gardening, and raising flowers from seeds. A dedicated Illini fan, she also had a deep appreciation for music and international travel, often ”dragging her daughters to art museums around the world”.
In her final six years, Alice resided at the Windsor of Savoy, where she formed many close friendships and enjoyed the weekly entertainment.