Alice White Blyler

Blyler, Alice White

Mrs. Alice White Blyler, 89, left us for her heavenly rest on Thursday, August 26, 2021 from St. Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida following a sudden illness.

Alice was born March 31, 1932 in Jacksonville; the only child of the late George Robert White Jr and Zetta Sally McCallum White.  She would reside there her entire life, attending Springfield Elementary School and Andrew Jackson High School.  Alice worshipped most of her life at Sherwood Forest (originally Osceola) and Wingate Road Baptist Churches; attending  Gardenview Baptist Church in her final years.

Alice married Johnny Blyler on January 12, 1950, celebrating 70 years of marriage in 2020.  Together they shared life and hope, sickness and heartache, joy and happiness, tragedy and death. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Johnny; as well as children John Robert, Susan Joy, and Patricia Jan Blyler.

While Alice was the embodiment of old-school moral values, she did have two vices – chocolate and ice cream.  Alice firmly embraced the classic, flashy culture of post-war Americana -– Big Band music, a white Ford Mustang, and a red lip.  Unknown to many, Alice also had something of a flair for the unusual, exotic, and eclectic.  Home life flavors included pet monkey Charlie, yard-rabbit Chumley and  gargoyles perched on the courtyard wall, keeping a close eye on visitors.  Alice exhibited bold taste, firmly believing that animal print and gold chain would add glamour to any wardrobe.

Alice loved animals (please, no snakes), particularly dogs.  There were many dog-children over the years; eighteen-year-old Butch the Chihuahua even attended Wayne’s wedding (albeit from cover).

Alice also enjoyed sewing, camping, fishing, and being creative with her grandchildren in such activities as making cookies, painting Easter eggs and the like.

Alice found particular solace in vacationing down in the “Holler,” a creek-side retreat created by her father and husband in the mountains of western North Carolina.  Alice found excitement in her senior years in traveling with Johnny and other family members on cruise ship excursions to the Caribbean and exploring in Alaskan waters with Wayne.  During her brief widowhood living at the Riverside Presbyterian House, she enjoyed her lunch excursions with grandson John, as well as visits with Wayne’s family there and at their home in South Carolina.

Surviving family members include two sons, Michael (Nancy) Blyler and Wayne (Tamra) Blyler.  Alice cherished her four grandchildren, Garrett (Ashlee) Blyler, Victoria Blyler Gay (Nate), John Blyler, and Jenna Blyler.  She was blessed with one great-grandchild, Lucas.  She had the great pleasure to attend Victoria’s wedding and Jenna’s university graduations before her illness.

Friends and family will be received in the Evergreen Cemetery chapel under the tower from 9:00 AM until 10:15 on Tuesday, August 31, 2021.  Please enter the main gate, where you will be directed to your destination by Evergreen personnel.  The graveside service will begin at 10:30 AM in the cemetery with Rev. Steve Kegley officiating.