Alice Marie Gerke Stuff

Alice Marie (Gerke) Stuff passed away peacefully at Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Alice was born April 30, 1941, near Otterville, Missouri, at home to her parents Anton and Alice (Kemper) Gerke.

Alice graduated eighth grade at St. John the Baptist Catholic School, Clear Creek, Pilot Grove, Missouri. She attended high school and earned an associate’s degree as a student at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith. She joined the religious order as Sr. John Bosco and became an elementary school teacher, serving at several schools in Arkansas. In 1967, Alice left the order to further her education and moved to Little Rock. She worked her way through college, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education.

On October 28, 1972, Alice married William Patrick Stuff (Bill) after meeting him at a Catholic Over 21 Club social. They were married for 39 years at the time of his death in 2012. Alice and Bill loved to travel, starting with a trip to the Canary Islands for their honeymoon. They enjoyed travel throughout the United States and many countries, most notably a month-long cruise to Australia and New Zealand and their dream trip to Ireland. Alice traveled to Germany, France, Lichtenstein, Austria, and Switzerland with her niece and to Hawaii and Alaska with friends. She also spent a great deal of time with her sister in Montana.

Alice (Mrs. Stuff) taught for many years in Arkansas, having served 40 years in the Pulaski County Special School District when she retired in 2008. She taught at Oakbrooke Elementary in Sherwood, primarily at the second and fifth grade levels. Alice was passionate about education, particularly higher education for women. She was active in many organizations, including the Arkansas NEA, ABWA, and AAWU, often serving on the scholarship committees to help raise funds for scholarships for women who wished to continue their education. She was an advocate for better pay and teaching contracts for Arkansas teachers, attending many conferences and meetings to develop and support teachers throughout the state.

Alice served as a volunteer in many capacities, most notably as a waiting room contact at CHI St. Vincent Infirmary, an usher at the Arkansas Repertory Theater, and a docent at the Clinton Library.

Alice and Bill loved to play board games and cards, spending many fun hours with family and friends at card parties and holidays. Books and historical sites were always high on her to do list, especially with her numerous nieces and nephews and extended family. Frequent visits home to the farm in Missouri were highlights. Her love of nature included colorful flowers, butterflies, turtles, and birds.

Alice is survived by her brother Philip (Lori) of Windsor, MO, and her sister Karen Hill of Kalispell, MT; sisters-in-law Barb Gerke of Brunswick, MO, Janice Gerke of Plato, MO, Linda Gerke of Pilot Grove, MO, and Mary Gerke of Columbia, MO; as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill, her brothers Frank Gerke, Tony Gerke, Bob Gerke, Paul Gerke, and Howard Gerke, and by her sister Mascel Atwell.

The family appreciates the care given by her friends and the staff of Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to St. Scholastica Monastery and the Arkansas Repertory Theater.

Services entrusted to Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct, Little Rock, AR, 72205.