Obituary for Alice L Clouser
Alice Lorraine “Dolly” Clouser, 87, of Mount Joy entered eternal rest on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at Lancaster General Hospital. She was the widow of Richard Dale Clouser.
She was born June 20, 1935, in Columbia, PA and was the youngest daughter of the 3 children born to the late Reba Scott and Elsie May (Bair) Flowers. She was raised by her late aunt, “Mother” Mary (Bair) and her husband, Stanley E. (Dingy) Gainer. In addition to her parents and husband, Alice was preceded in death by her beloved son, Clarence (Chip) W. Lytle, III; granddaughter, Brittany O’Connell; siblings, Audrey, and Billy; three half siblings and two Gainer cousins.
Alice’s early years were tumultuous. Born prematurely with the untimely death of her birth mother, Alice earned the nickname “Dolly” because of her tiny size. Alice was feisty from the beginning, a trait she would carry through life and served her well through many ups and downs. Following the death of her beloved “Mother Mary” when she was 8, Alice entered foster care. With the support of her foster family, Alice attended nursing school, learned to cook, sew, knit, crochet, and appreciate the finer things in life. This experience sparked her life-long creativity. In her earlier years Alice relished quilting, sewing her children’s matching clothes, canning, and gardening. Later Alice enjoyed watercolor painting, stenciling, toile painting and eventually artisan doll making, designing, and creating everything from the color of the porcelain to the tiny shoes and dresses. She learned the art of porcelain painting and was a member of the Porcelain Painters Guild. She worked both as a floral designer, and a nurse for disabled children. Alice also appreciated big game hunting with her husband and hosting her yearly Thanksgiving Day events. Above all Alice’s greatest love was her family. She was loyal, tenacious, and loving to a fault.
Alice is survived by her daughters, Candace Lorraine Abel (Paul Rouse) of Mt. Joy; Mindy Joyce Robinson (Bruce) of Elizabethtown; son, Thomas Scott Lytle (Fiancée, Kathy Gojmerac) of Hummelstown; twenty-six grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; stepson, Douglas Clouser; half-brother, Ted Flowers; half-sister, Jeannette Wilt; sister-in-law, Barbara Flowers; numerous nieces and nephews.
A tribute to Alice’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at 7:00 PM at Matinchek Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. 260 E. Main St. Middletown, PA with Rev. Britt Strohecker officiating. There will be a viewing from 5:00 PM until the time of service. The service will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person. Go to the Matinchek website and onto Alice’s page to view.
Interment (for family only) will be Thursday, October 27, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Middletown Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Alice’s name to PA Wounded Warriors, Inc. 1117 Country Club Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011; Second Grace, 1610 Landis Road, Mount Joy, PA 17552; Brittany’s Hope, Elizabethtown, PA.
Condolences may be sent online at www.matinchekfuneralhome.com
She was born June 20, 1935, in Columbia, PA and was the youngest daughter of the 3 children born to the late Reba Scott and Elsie May (Bair) Flowers. She was raised by her late aunt, “Mother” Mary (Bair) and her husband, Stanley E. (Dingy) Gainer. In addition to her parents and husband, Alice was preceded in death by her beloved son, Clarence (Chip) W. Lytle, III; granddaughter, Brittany O’Connell; siblings, Audrey, and Billy; three half siblings and two Gainer cousins.
Alice’s early years were tumultuous. Born prematurely with the untimely death of her birth mother, Alice earned the nickname “Dolly” because of her tiny size. Alice was feisty from the beginning, a trait she would carry through life and served her well through many ups and downs. Following the death of her beloved “Mother Mary” when she was 8, Alice entered foster care. With the support of her foster family, Alice attended nursing school, learned to cook, sew, knit, crochet, and appreciate the finer things in life. This experience sparked her life-long creativity. In her earlier years Alice relished quilting, sewing her children’s matching clothes, canning, and gardening. Later Alice enjoyed watercolor painting, stenciling, toile painting and eventually artisan doll making, designing, and creating everything from the color of the porcelain to the tiny shoes and dresses. She learned the art of porcelain painting and was a member of the Porcelain Painters Guild. She worked both as a floral designer, and a nurse for disabled children. Alice also appreciated big game hunting with her husband and hosting her yearly Thanksgiving Day events. Above all Alice’s greatest love was her family. She was loyal, tenacious, and loving to a fault.
Alice is survived by her daughters, Candace Lorraine Abel (Paul Rouse) of Mt. Joy; Mindy Joyce Robinson (Bruce) of Elizabethtown; son, Thomas Scott Lytle (Fiancée, Kathy Gojmerac) of Hummelstown; twenty-six grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; stepson, Douglas Clouser; half-brother, Ted Flowers; half-sister, Jeannette Wilt; sister-in-law, Barbara Flowers; numerous nieces and nephews.
A tribute to Alice’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at 7:00 PM at Matinchek Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. 260 E. Main St. Middletown, PA with Rev. Britt Strohecker officiating. There will be a viewing from 5:00 PM until the time of service. The service will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person. Go to the Matinchek website and onto Alice’s page to view.
Interment (for family only) will be Thursday, October 27, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Middletown Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Alice’s name to PA Wounded Warriors, Inc. 1117 Country Club Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011; Second Grace, 1610 Landis Road, Mount Joy, PA 17552; Brittany’s Hope, Elizabethtown, PA.
Condolences may be sent online at www.matinchekfuneralhome.com