Cover photo for Rebecca "Becky" J. Gotheridge's Obituary
Rebecca "Becky" J. Gotheridge Profile Photo
1943 Rebecca 2014

Rebecca "Becky" J. Gotheridge

December 16, 1943 — July 21, 2014

Rebecca Joyce Alley Gotheridge was born December 16, 1943, to Jesse and Joy Alley at their small farm in Sewal, Iowa. Though they didn't have much money, Becky and her family were rich in love for family and friends and rich in their faith as the Alley family attended Sewal United Brethren Church where Becky didn't miss a single Sunday during her first seven years.
Becky and her older brother, Dwight, spent time on the farm playing with goats, making mud pies, and swimming in the pond with their cousins during cherished Sunday picnics. Becky learned the responsibility of cooking, cleaning, and caring for her younger siblings, Doris and Dean. Becky comically remembered one instance when she scrubbed Dean's dirty feet with Comet cleanser!
Becky began her education at Sewal School, where she rode a horse-drawn bus to kindergarten. Becky attended Seymour High School where she became the girls' basketball captain and homecoming queen for the class of 1962. She received her BS Education in Home Economics from Northeast Missouri State, becoming our loved "Becky Home-Ecky". She enjoyed sewing, crafts, and cooking. She could easily cook something great, even when the cupboards were nearly empty and without using a recipe. Her homemade pizza was a family favorite.
She married Dan Gotheridge upon completing her bachelor's degree. They had two daughters, Kris and Kathy. Becky and her family moved to Bremerton, Washington in 1980. Becky loved the mountains, the Puget Sound, and all the life-long friends she made there. She received her Master's Degree in Secondary Administration at Seattle Pacific University and became the Assistant Principal at South Kitsap High School, the largest in the Pacific Northwest.
Becky and her family moved to Missouri in 1990. Though Becky and Dan divorced while living in Missouri, their union gave them four grandchildren as their adult daughters married. For this, Becky is blessed.
Becky retired in 2002, after having served as Assistant Principal at Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, Missouri and then as Principal at Bayless High School in St. Louis County, Missouri.
Retirement has allowed Becky to be the best "Granny B" to her grandchildren. Brynn, Michael, Shannon, and Karsen have been forever changed by having "Granny" in their lives. Granny has spent cherished time with her grandkids having sleepovers, attending soccer games, band concerts, robotics competitions, baking cakes in the image of her granddaughter's pets, and as Shannon says, "just being the best Granny ever!" When not spending time with grandchildren, Becky enjoyed being with her DIVA friends at Evangel United Methodist Church in Rochester, MN. Thank you, DIVAS, for your prayers and friendship.
After a courageous battle with cancer, Becky began her eternal life on July 21, 2014, joining her parents, Jesse and Joy Alley; grandparents Ernest and Icy Prince; grandparents Thomas and Mary Alley; and holding her baby niece, Avery Ann Palmer. Surviving Becky are her two daughters, Kris (Matthew) Thomas of Rochester, MN. and Kathy (Jeff) Austin of Roanoke, VA.; four grandchildren, Brynn and Karsen Austin of Roanoke, VA. and Michael and Shannon Thomas of Rochester, MN.; brother Dwight (Judith) Alley of Powersville, MO; sister Doris Pollock of Corydon, IA; brother Dean (Donna) Alley of Phoenix, AZ; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.
In lieu of a funeral, Becky celebrated her life with her family and friends at her 70th birthday party in Iowa on July 6. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in Becky's honor.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rebecca "Becky" J. Gotheridge, please visit our flower store.

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