Adena Tice

MANSFIELD -- Adena Sutton Tice, 93, passed away Friday, May 31, 2013.  Graveside Service: 2:30 PM Monday at Rosemound Cemetery, Commerce.        Memorials: Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice or to the Grady Tice Endowment at Texas A & M University Commerce, P.O. Box 3425, Commerce, TX75429. Att: Glenda Anderson.        Our Lil' Auntie, Aunt Adena, was born October 22, 1919 to Miles B. and Lillian O. Sutton. She was born at home in Henderson County, Texas, along with her twin sister Avena. Her mother did not know that she was going to have twins at the time. All during her young years she was often called Lil'n. At their birth they were "the babies". Their father owned a grocery store and the girls always stopped in after school for a piece of candy. After the girls graduated from high school, their mother, "Mama Sut", accompanied them to Commerce, Texas to attend East Texas State Teachers College. They lived in a boarding house with their mother. Adena received her Bachelors of Science Degree and later a Masters. During that time she met her future husband, Grady George Tice, lovingly known as Uncle Grady. They married July 1942 and she began her 34 year teaching career. She taught in Malakoff, Cayuga, Ranger, Greenville and Commerce school districts. She told stories of having taught in buildings without air conditioning and a class of 52 children all day. At that time, women were still wearing dresses and heels. Adena loved children and always stressed penmanship as her specialty. While Uncle Grady taught at the college, they were able to entertain many couples over the years of teaching. She was always a gracious host. Her many meals may have been fried chicken, chicken salad, crepes, fresh vegetables from their garden and congealed salads always in the frig. She was known for her delicious desserts, sweet tea, chocolate pies and most of all her sugar cookies. She made these yearly for the campers going off to Falls Creek.  Lil' Auntie and Uncle Grady travelled to all of the United States and much of Europe. Early on they always owned a trailer and she would spend days cooking and freezing meals for their trips. Uncle Grady was readying the camper and she was packing their bags. The nieces and nephews remember what fun as a child to have spent the nights in the trailer and then go water skiing and coming back to a "home cooked" meal. Adena was an avid bridge and Mar Jon player. She always said that Uncle Grady told her she was going to learn two things.to play bridge and dance. She has been forever grateful for this. Lil' Auntie always did her own nails until later in life. She loved to tell the story of sending him to the local drug store for her particular color of polish. "Mocha Poca" she told him.oh my, he didn't find this and came home and told her not to ever send him out again for that. So she stocked up the next day on her "Mocha Poca" polish. The great nieces and nephews always looked forward to Christmas. She spent months planning out a "game" for them for Christmas Day. Each one always ended up with $15.00 each and sometimes they wondered just how that was going to happen. She should have patented those games!        Adena and Grady had so many close friends in Commerce. They were the cornerstone of their church, neighborhood and community. They square danced, played golf and cared for others in need. They hosted guests from out of town, pastors and their wives, visiting students and many, many friends. Adena has resided at Walnut Creek Assisted Living for the past four years. Thank you to Rhonda for always making her feel pretty. To Dennis and Linda for meeting her spiritual needs, and the wonderful volunteers Barbara and Jo for bringing her joy and companionship to her life. A very special thank you to caregivers, Karen Curry, Doneisha Brooks and Rae Dean Ford. You are angels from above.  Survivors: Sister, Avena Sutton Cook; numerous nieces and nephews.