ALICE MARIE (McANDREWS) COULSON

 Alice Marie McAndrews Coulson, 96, Eagle, Idaho passed away on December 8, 2021, after a long and very full life.

 Alice, the only child of Irish immigrants Joseph Patrick and Catherine Katie Gallagher McAndrews, was born on August 20, 1925, in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She grew up surrounded by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. In her late teens and during the latter years of the Great Depression, her parents migrated to California. 

 Upon answering an advertisement for a position in one of the Hollywood studio agencies, Alice found secretarial work in Los Angeles. In her interview she bravely let the manager know she was a capable typist. She then rushed home to learn how to type before starting on her first day. Success! She was now a working woman in her beautiful handmade dresses and high heeled shoes. She worked as secretary in several downtown LA offices including at the Hollywood Reporter as well marketing and talent agencies.

 In the early 1950s she met the love of her life, Frank Lawrence Coulson. They were married in 1953 and Alice became a stepmother to Frank’s sons, Tom and Ronnie.

 Alice and Frank bought their first home in La Puente, CA. where they laid down kitchen tiles with their initials A-F. Their first son, Lawrence Alan (Larry) was born in this home. When Larry was still a toddler, the family move to Pico Rivera where second son, Frank Lawrence, Jr was born.

 The Coulsons lived in Whittier, California while the boys were growing up. Alice was a homemaker; caring for her boys, volunteering in their schools, and getting them involved in many hobbies and clubs.

 In the early 70s, Frank Sr. was laid off from his career at Bell Telephone and Alice decided it was her turn to go back to work and let Frank retire. The family packed up their lives and moved to Emmett, Idaho to get away from the LA life. In Emmett, they bought a small five-acre farm where Alice raised farm animals including sheep whose wool was spun into yarn for her to use for knitting and crochet.

 Alice found work for the Gem County Sheriff’s office where she was deputized as a sheriff and managed the driver’s license department for over 20 years. In her leisure time, Alice took up painting. She was a prolific artist in watercolor, oil and acrylic paints.

 Frank and Alice’s 42-year romance came to an end in 1994 when he passed away. She sold their farm and built a home in the east end neighborhood of Boise where she actively participated in helping to raise her grandsons. She loved studying the stock market and became an avid investor. She continued to paint and learned to create stained glass and make jewelry.

 In 2018, as her health began to wane, she moved to Paramount Parks Assisted Living where she ruled the house for her final years. She was a caregiver for many of the other residents in the facility taking them under her wing and showing them love and care. The staff at that facility fell in love with her and came to see her in her final days.

 Alice is survived by sons Larry (Marianne) and Frank, Jr (Pam); grandsons, Michael (Miho), Christopher, and Kevin (Stephanie), and great-grandchildren Aleighanna and Zayne. She is preceded in death by husband, Frank Lawrence Coulson, Sr.

 Services will be held Monday, December 13, 2021 at the Potter Funeral Chapel in Emmett,.  Viewing will be from 9:00-11:00 AM.  The service will start at 11:00 at the funeral home.  Alice will be laid to rest in Emmett Cemetery in Emmett, Idaho next to her beloved, Frank.

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