Obituary for Alice Wiles
Alice Wiles, 89, of Canyon, Texas, went home to live with her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.
She was born Alice Ruth Carr to Hiram and Ella Carr on October 15, 1931 in Slaton, Texas. She had close relationships with her brother Dr. Hiram Thomas Carr, Jr. and her sister Helen Bonita Carr Meyer; another sister died at birth. As the daughter of a school teacher, Alice excelled academically and graduated from Post High School as valedictorian in 1949, for which she received a scholarship to any state college or university. She graduated from West Texas State College in 1952 and entered the work force as a school teacher like her mother.
On November 15, 1953, Alice married Donald E. Standley, and they grew their family with the births of daughter Joan, son Robert, and twin daughters Donna and Karen. With four children under five years old, Alice would laugh later about how she looked forward to the children’s afternoon naptime so that she could have some quiet time in the house. The family spent several years in Canyon and followed Donald’s job as a banker to Austin, Texas, where they attended church at Hyde Park Baptist Church and lived a great life together until his death in 1975.
Alice stayed in Austin for a few years while she worked on her library science degree and oversaw Robert, Donna and Karen finish high school. While moving her three youngest children to a house in Canyon for them to attend college, she connected with friend Troy F. Martin. They married on November 2, 1979 since she was able to get out of a tennis match. They published the Canyon phone directory for several years, were members of First Baptist Church of Canyon, moved to an independent living home in Amarillo, and grew old together until Troy’s death in 2006.
While spending her time with family and leaning on the company of her friends, Alice’s friend Lester L. Wiles became a companion for her when traveling, shopping and socializing. They married on January 26, 2007 in Amarillo and celebrated their weekly anniversary every Friday until Lester’s death in 2015.
Though petite in stature, Alice was a large influence of strength in adversity, firmness in her convictions, and stamina for life and love. She appreciated speed in her sporty cars. She enjoyed shopping and had an impeccable eye for quality. Like her father who was a baker for the Fred Harvey chain of restaurants, Alice baked wonderful desserts and pastries for her family and friends over the years. She also enjoyed her regular tennis matches, playing bridge and reading a good book.
Alice is preceded in death by her parents and siblings, her husband Donald Standley, her husband Troy Martin, her husband Lester Wiles and step-daughter Kaysee Martin River and a step-granddaughter.
She is survived by her daughter Joan Thomson and husband Kirby of Conroe, Texas; son Robert Standley and wife Jane of Canyon; daughter Donna Swinney of Canyon; daughter Karen Dillehay and husband Richard of Canyon; her stepchildren with Troy Martin: James Martin and wife Susan of Corinth, Texas; Tim Martin and wife Christi of The Colony, Texas; and Amy Trela and husband Patrick of Corinth, Texas; her stepson with Lester Wiles: Mike Wiles of Round Rock, Texas; 8 grandchildren, 9 step-grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
There will be a private viewing for family only. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association or your favorite charity.
She was born Alice Ruth Carr to Hiram and Ella Carr on October 15, 1931 in Slaton, Texas. She had close relationships with her brother Dr. Hiram Thomas Carr, Jr. and her sister Helen Bonita Carr Meyer; another sister died at birth. As the daughter of a school teacher, Alice excelled academically and graduated from Post High School as valedictorian in 1949, for which she received a scholarship to any state college or university. She graduated from West Texas State College in 1952 and entered the work force as a school teacher like her mother.
On November 15, 1953, Alice married Donald E. Standley, and they grew their family with the births of daughter Joan, son Robert, and twin daughters Donna and Karen. With four children under five years old, Alice would laugh later about how she looked forward to the children’s afternoon naptime so that she could have some quiet time in the house. The family spent several years in Canyon and followed Donald’s job as a banker to Austin, Texas, where they attended church at Hyde Park Baptist Church and lived a great life together until his death in 1975.
Alice stayed in Austin for a few years while she worked on her library science degree and oversaw Robert, Donna and Karen finish high school. While moving her three youngest children to a house in Canyon for them to attend college, she connected with friend Troy F. Martin. They married on November 2, 1979 since she was able to get out of a tennis match. They published the Canyon phone directory for several years, were members of First Baptist Church of Canyon, moved to an independent living home in Amarillo, and grew old together until Troy’s death in 2006.
While spending her time with family and leaning on the company of her friends, Alice’s friend Lester L. Wiles became a companion for her when traveling, shopping and socializing. They married on January 26, 2007 in Amarillo and celebrated their weekly anniversary every Friday until Lester’s death in 2015.
Though petite in stature, Alice was a large influence of strength in adversity, firmness in her convictions, and stamina for life and love. She appreciated speed in her sporty cars. She enjoyed shopping and had an impeccable eye for quality. Like her father who was a baker for the Fred Harvey chain of restaurants, Alice baked wonderful desserts and pastries for her family and friends over the years. She also enjoyed her regular tennis matches, playing bridge and reading a good book.
Alice is preceded in death by her parents and siblings, her husband Donald Standley, her husband Troy Martin, her husband Lester Wiles and step-daughter Kaysee Martin River and a step-granddaughter.
She is survived by her daughter Joan Thomson and husband Kirby of Conroe, Texas; son Robert Standley and wife Jane of Canyon; daughter Donna Swinney of Canyon; daughter Karen Dillehay and husband Richard of Canyon; her stepchildren with Troy Martin: James Martin and wife Susan of Corinth, Texas; Tim Martin and wife Christi of The Colony, Texas; and Amy Trela and husband Patrick of Corinth, Texas; her stepson with Lester Wiles: Mike Wiles of Round Rock, Texas; 8 grandchildren, 9 step-grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
There will be a private viewing for family only. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association or your favorite charity.