Alice Kay Silver Anderson Watson passed away at her home on February 5, 2024. She was born April 4, 1946 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Clarence Richards Silver and Lucy May Carter. Alice was the third child and oldest daughter of eight children, and was named after two great-grandmothers, Alice Kimball Smith and Alice Robinson Richards.
Alice grew up in Salt Lake City. She graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. in elementary education in 1968. She married Martin Anderson on June 25, 1968 in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved to Garden Grove, California and then to Tujunga, California, and had four children.
Alice and Martin divorced in 1983, and she worked as a teacher and started her Masters program at California State University Northridge. She soon met Howard Lee Watson Jr. On their second date, they attended the ballet. According to Alice, he looked good in a suit and that won her over. They married on March 16, 1984, and they were sealed in December 1984 in the Los Angeles California Temple. Alice became a stepmom to Lee’s two children, and they had one child together.
They lived in Shadow Hills, California. Alice taught art classes through the city for about 10 years. She also taught ceramics to preschoolers and started summer camps at the McGroarty Art Center. When her youngest child was in junior high school, Alice returned to work as a substitute teacher in local elementary schools and then worked with homeschool students for the school district. She finished her Masters’ degree in curriculum development at California Lutheran University when she was 62 years old. She never gave up on her dreams and proved you can do anything at any age.
Alice enjoyed oil painting, sewing, gardening, and cooking. She also served in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Young Women president, Relief Society president, counselor in the Relief Society presidency, Relief Society teacher, teacher trainer, Primary teacher, and her favorite, Gospel Doctrine teacher.
After Alice and Lee retired, they moved to Utah and built a home in Herriman so they could be closer to their children. They loved to travel together and visited all 50 states. They also loved to camp together and go to National Parks. Lee and Alice were married for 38 years before he passed away on August 24th, 2021. In 2021, Alice was diagnosed with lung cancer, which she fought with grace and dignity until her passing.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Howard Lee Watson Jr., her son, William Clarence Anderson, her parents, and her brothers Dennis and Steven.
She is survived by her children Jeff Elam Watson, Carl (Janet Oertli) Anderson, Andrea Alice Anderson, Chandra (Dorman) Kingsford, Jennifer (Scott) Kleinbaum, Amanda (Nicholas) Gilbert, and her siblings Carol (Larry) Kurth, Marilyn (David) Wood, Robert (Mary Ann) Silver, Heber (Marta) Silver, and Janet (Peter) Beverley. She also leaves 11 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 11:00 am in the Patriot Ridge Ward chapel, 4617 West Patriot Ridge Drive, Herriman, Utah 84096. Viewings will be held at the same location; Friday, February 9, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm and Saturday, Feb 10, 2024 from 10:00-10:45 am. Interment following services at Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy, UT.
Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 1:00 AM – 3:00 AM
Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM