Alice E. Read, 97 of Cheyenne, Wyoming formerly Sterling passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2018. A private family service will be held with burial at Riverside Cemetery.

Alice Etta Welch was born November 28, 1920 in Nashua, New Hampshire to Elbridge and Mabel Welch. She was the youngest of five children and grew up in a lovely time and place where she could safely walk to and from school.

When Alice was twenty one years old, a young man started coming around to test milk at neighboring dairies. They were soon acquainted and their love blossomed. She and James Read were married on July 2, 1942 and began a great adventure that would last 72 years.

Alice was always a willing companion and traveler as their married life took them all over the United States – first, when Jim was in the Air Force as a B-24 mechanic. When WWII ended, they and their first child, Betty were living in Casper, Wyoming. They loved Wyoming so much they decided to stay and make a life in the West. They ended up in Laramie living at the University of Wyoming stock farm, which is now the Territorial State Prison museum. Their son John was born in Laramie and the family has many fond memories and stories of the years there. While living there, Jim went to the University of Wyoming and earned his degree in agriculture.

The young family then moved to Cheyenne Wells, Colorado and later to Lamar, Colorado following Jim's position with CSU Extension Service. Alice managed the home and kids' activities while Jim worked many long hours with extension and community activities.

Alice was an excellent cook, gardener, canner, and inventor of things. She loved animals and the farm life. Having grown up during the depression she was a tirelessly resourceful and inventive person and never complained about not having enough. She also sang with the Sweet Adelines.

In 1963, Jim was offered the County Agent position for Logan County and they moved to Sterling, CO. Sterling was to be their home for 42 years and Alice loved it there.

In 1983, Jim retired and they began what Alice called the "trailer years" where they traveled around the United States with their fifth wheel camper and had a wonderful time. Alice loved seeing new places and meeting new people.

Finally, in 2005 the house in Sterling was getting to be too much for Alice and Jim and they moved to Burns, Wyoming to be near their daughter, Betty.

They later moved to Pointe Frontier in Cheyenne, where Alice met her wonderful friend, Nellie and they spent almost every evening sitting on the porch or in the front lobby, often being the last ones there still visiting and sharing funny stories.

After Jim died, Alice moved to Primrose Assisted Living in Cheyenne and spent four wonderful years there. She loved her "girls" (the nursing staff) and her lovely apartment with large West facing windows and (best of all!) a large storage closet.

Alice is survived by her daughter, Betty (Ken) King of Burns, WY; son John (Barbara) Read of Windsor, CO; four grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jim; her parents and 4 siblings.