MCALLEN, Texas — Alice Marie Eakin Chaffee, 80, passed away July 24, 2011 in her home in McAllen, Texas.
She was born April 8, 1931 in Larned, the daughter of Lewis and Allie Mae Watkins Eakin.
Alice was the younger sister of Ina Mae Selfridge. At a very early age, Alice and Ina moved in with their grandmother for several years in Larned. Her grandmother taught them many values of life, one of which was the loyalty and commitment to family.
As a teenager and young adult, Alice worked at the Burdett grocery store. During her high school years, she enjoyed being in the band as a drummer, in the Glee Club, as well as being involved in many other activities. She graduated from Burdett Rural High School in 1949. She stayed in contact with her classmates throughout the years by writing letters and attending class reunions, which she thoroughly enjoyed.
Alice married James Wallace Chaffee on Feb. 3, 1952 in Burdett. They established their home in Shawnee, Kansas, where they raised their three children — David, Katie and Rodney.
Alice and Jim were self-employed in a china and cookware business named Celebrity Inc. While in Kansas, she helped her husband form another business called Kantex Leathers in 1970. This business opportunity brought her and her family to the Rio Grande Valley in 1974 and later expanded to be known as The Leather Factory, in Pharr, Texas. Both her sons were a vital part of the business. Alice thrived in helping Jim and the boys with the many facets of creating leather coats and other items to be sold in the retail and wholesale business.
Alice retired in 1996 to enjoy the most treasured part of her life — her children, and grandchildren. She made many trips back to Kansas to help with the farm and visit her friends and family.
Survivors include, her children, David James and Mary Chaffee, McAllen, Texas; Terry and Katie Hoff, Great Bend; Rodney and Dana Chaffee, Naperville, Ill.; eight grandchildren, Justin Chaffee, Hannah Figg, Matthew Hoff, Kevin Hoff, Ashley Chaffee, Christopher Chaffee, Brian Hoff, and Kathryn Chaffee; two great-grandchildren, Jeffrey Figg, and Gracie Kay Hoff; a step-brother Junior Dean Cooper, Burdett; two half-brothers, Clinton Qualls and Ron Qualls of California; and many nieces and nephews.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her sister, Ina; and a half-sister, Sandra Mayberry-Smith.
A celebration of life will take place for Alice at 10 a.m. Sept. 3, 2011 in Burdett.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial donations to the Paralyzed Veterans or a local food bank.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Beckwith Mortuary **
916 Main
Larned, KS, 67550
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Aug. 19, 2011