ALVIS, Edward Arthur, of OK, TX, IA, NY, MO

Edward Arthur Alvis was born Dec. 24, 1926, at Thomas, OK, to George and Mary (Pedigo) Alvis, and passed away Feb. 8, 2003, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He attended school near Geary, then Jabbok Bible School at Thomas, where he was Salutatorian of the Class of 1944. While attending the University of Oklahoma, he met Evelynne Armstrong of Hydro; they were married on Dec. 23, 1945, and celebrated 57 years together. They moved to Wichita Falls, TX, where Art managed the Thom McAn shoe store, and where they were blessed with two daughters, Katherine Elaine and Arta Sue. They lived in Beaumont, TX, before moving in 1952 to Oklahoma City, where he joined the Montgomery Ward company as Shoe Department Manager. After ten years, he went to work for the GEX stores, owned by National Bellas Hess. He moved with them to Albany, NY; Sioux City, IA; Buffalo, NY; then Kansas City, MO, where he became Vice President of the company. In 1977, the Alvises returned to Hydro and opened a ladies’ clothing store in Weatherford.
       Art became a Christian at an early age in the Brethren in Christ Church. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and has attended the First Christian Church at Hydro for several years. He rededicated his life to Christ in August, 2002.
       Genealogy was Art’s hobby for over 30 years. Research took him on yearly trips, including twice to England. At the time of his death, he had recently completed a term as the Governor of the Oklahoma Society of Mayflower Descendants. In early September, 2001, he attended the General Board of Assistants Meeting of the Mayflower Descendants in Portland, ME, as Acting Deputy Governor General. He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Sons of Union Veterans, the 89ers Club, the First Families of the Twin Territories, and the Western Plains Genealogical Society. He also belonged to the Scottish Rite of the Masonic Lodge, having served as Worshipful Master.
       Art was a lifelong, active Republican. While in Kansas City, MO, he held an elective county office. He was President of the Pachyderm Club and the Northland Republican Club. In 1972, he was campaign manager for the candidate for State Treasurer and accompanied Mrs. Kit Bond during her husband’s successful U.S. Senate campaign. In that year, Art and Evelynne were county chairs for the Reelect the President campaign and were given a standing ovation by the Clay County Republican Organization for their work. Both were also listed in Who’s Who in Missouri Politics. Art met Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Bush, Sr. He was involved in taking the U.S. Census in 1990 and 2000.
       He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister Mary and a brother Earl. He is survived by his wife, Evelynne; daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy and Malcolm Patterson of Oklahoma City, Sue and William Snyder of Holland, MI; grandchildren, Juliet and Shaun Betzelberger and David and Julie Snyder, all of Holland, Clarissa and Martin Urbina, Liberty and Chad Joy, and Glen Patterson, all of Oklahoma City; great-grandchildren, Joseph, Seth and Emily Katherine Urbina, RaeAnn, William, Mark and Tessa Betzelberger, Emily Claire, Kaila and Halle Joy, and Jack Snyder; brother Russell of Arapaho; sister-in-law Ramona Duff of Hydro; nephew Greig Alvis of Carrollton, TX; and numerous other nieces, nephews, and cousins.
[He was also co-editor of The Alvis Exchange newsletter from its start until macular degeration took away his vision a couple of years before his death.]

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