Alice Marie Book

Alice Marie Glass Book, age 97 years, of Miles, Texas, died on the 24 ^th day of March 2023. She was a beautiful and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was the oldest child born on July 12, 1925, on the family farm in Runnels County, Texas (southeast of Rowena) to Rose Matilda Pohler Glass and Edward Joseph Glass. Around 1926, her family relocated to a farm four miles southeast of Miles, Texas. She attended Sweet Home Elementary School and eventually graduated from Miles High School.

While in high school, Alice met her husband, Richard Book, at a dance in Rowena. She worked retail while Richard served in the U.S. Army during World War II. They were married September 25, 1946, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rowena. Together, they farmed and ranched in Runnels and Tom Green Counties growing cotton and grain and raising chickens, hogs, and cattle. They had two children—Beverly Ann Book Rauschuber and Glen Richard Book and were wed for 75 years.

Alice is nothing if not hardworking, tough, and creative. During the seven-year drought in the 1950’s, she and Richard survived selling eggs and chickens out of the trunk of their car in San Angelo, Texas as well as cream to Gandy’s Creamery. Alice spent many hours growing a large garden and canning the produce. She was also known for her excellent sewing skills and was an avid recycler. She could make beautiful garments or quilts from feed sacks, and she filled beds and pillows with chicken feathers. When water was in short supply and had to be hauled in, Alice washed clothes by heating water in a kettle over a fire and using handmade lye soap. She was once honored by receiving the Runnel’s County Outstanding Homemaker’s Award.

Alice and Richard were one of the founding couples to establish St. Thomas Catholic Church in Miles, where she volunteered many hours in Alter Society activities and teaching religious education classes. She took regular solace in prayer; a rosary and prayer book were her constant companions. In her later years, she enjoyed being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving relatives include her daughter and son-in-law, Beverly & Don Rauschuber; grandson and daughter-in-law, Eric & Lisa Rauschuber; granddaughter and son-in-law, Melissa & Jason McGlashan; and great-grandchildren, Madison, Shelby, & Kendall Rauschuber and Jack & Owen McGlashan.

Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Book; son, Glen Book; parents, Ed & Rose Glass; sisters and brothers-in-law, Laura & Elmer Halfmann and Nadine & Roy Fisher; brother and sister-in-law, Lester & Annette Glass; and sister- and brother-in-law, Frank & Leona Book, Benard & Viola Book, Amelia & Alphonse Schniers, Felix & Ruby Book, Alphonse & Hattie Mae Book, Edwin & Leona Book, and Herbert & Pauline Book.

Rosary prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 27, 2023, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Miles. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 10:00 am at St. Thomas Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Miles Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your favorite charity.

Special appreciation and thanks to Alice’s caregivers, Fay Hatter, Kay Scott, and Shelia Ramsey.