Obituary of MaryAlice Walker

MaryAlice Walker came into this life on June 15, 1976, in Gillette, Wyoming, to parents Thomas B. Walker and Naoma Nicholls Walker. It was an unusually stormy day in which snow was accompanied by lightning and thunder. She was a sweet baby that reminded her dad of Tweety Bird with her seemingly large head, cute smile and peach fuzzy hair. MaryAlice was a quick learner, walking at 9 months with true determination. At an early age, she loved to pal around with her sister Laura, who was 15 months older than she, and her dad on the construction sites of the many houses he built. She had an infectious smile, a lot of energy, and legs that were so bowed her parents thought she may have needed leg braces. However, before they knew it, she grew into a knock-kneed teenager and stood 5'9" as a beautiful and statuesque woman. She had a bold, risk-taking spirit and at the age of six actually fell off the roof of the family van on the 4th of July. She and her cousins and sisters were "practicing" for viewing the fireworks that night when she fell and broke her arm, blackened her eye, and was knocked unconscious. As a child she often brought home stray cats and as an adult she adopted a few rescue animals from the shelter. Even though she was very allergic to cats, she loved them so much that she would hug and kiss them despite her blotchy skin, swollen eyes and stuffy, sneezing nose. After the Walker family moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming when MaryAlice was eight, she formed such an affinity for that area that she made several special trips to visit there, even as recently as last year. She was proud to be from Wyoming and loved the beauty and grandeur of nature. Among her many attributes, MaryAlice was a true and loyal friend, always meeting new people and leaving an impression everywhere she went, even in foreign lands. She loved others unconditionally and exercised great compassion for her fellow man. She befriended many people from all walks of life as she instinctively knew when someone was in need of a friend. She had a great capacity for hard work and impressed people at whatever she did. Her first job was bagging groceries at Food-4-Less at the age of 15. When she was 23 she was promoted to front-end manager and continued to work her way up to assistant store manager by the time she was 28. It was soon after that that she decided to pursue her passion for interior design by going back to school at the California Art Institute. A special talent was her creative ability in design work. She had a keen eye for color and composition, was a gifted interior designer, and had the uncanny gift for walking into a store and instinctively selecting the most expensive items for her projects. She spent two years in New York City designing several high-end apartments for high-profile clients even before finishing her first year of design school. She worked with other professional designers who were impressed with her natural talent and abilities. One such professional praised her for the best design boards he had ever seen. She was humble about her talents and was always willing to learn from others. MaryAlice lived a very full life in her short 35 years on this earth, having travelled to Europe and even living in France for a three-month study-abroad program. She was a true explorer and loved to see architecture and museums in the many locations she visited. She would read as many travel and history books as she could about the destinations she visited. She really enjoyed being the tour guide on trips. Her friends and family often had to run just to keep up with her as she planned many fascinating stops into the itinerary. She loved family and social gatherings and would introduce new games and fun activities to bring everyone together. She was a person who attracted true, genuine friends who loved her dearly. Among her many hobbies she loved bowling and her team often competed in the annual Punk Rock Bowling event in Las Vegas. She raised orchids, arranged little succulent gardens, and grew an herb garden she harvested for the delicious recipes she often cooked. She was ever so generous with her time, energy, and love. MaryAlice peacefully passed into the next life surrounded by her family and close friends on the evening of Friday, December 9, 2011. She is survived by her mother, Naoma Nicholls; father and step-mother Thomas B. and LoisAnn Walker; her four sisters, Laura, Lila, Maggie, and Katie; brothers-in-law Joe Jacobs and Temple Sewell; nephew, Cadence Walker Arevalo; her grandmother, Vivan Tebbs Nicholls Robertson; and her babies, Muchers the fat Chihuahua and Steve, the loud cat. She was preceded in death by her granddad Lyle Nicholls; grandparents Larry and Verna Walker; and Uncles Joseph Walker and Art Nicholls. Her passing left a cavernous hole in this world. Many lives were affected for the good through the beauty she recognized and created everywhere she went. In the days prior to her passing her family and friends prayed for a miracle and they experienced many. She blessed the world in so many ways. It is clear that she was loved, but the steady stream of friends who showed a great outpouring of compassion during the week she was hospitalized proved the undying bond MaryAlice formed with the world. It was a powerful example of the genuine loyalty and prevailing love that she earned and shared in this life. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that a donation be made in her name to: The House of Ruth, "Assisting Families Victimized by Domestic Violence" P.O. Box 33288 Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 266-4139