Alice Tourville

Myra Alice Tourville (nee LoVan), RN, MSW, was born March 15, 1930 and died on September 19, 2016 at the age of 86. She was born near Steelville, Missouri. Her parents were the late Elmer Lovan and Katherine Downey Lovan. Alice was the youngest of eight children, seven of whom have preceded her in death. In her teens, she moved to St. Clair, Missouri where she graduated from high school in 1947. She moved to St. Louis and graduated from the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital of Nursing in 1951. In 1951, she married John L. Casey of St. Louis and they had two children. For most of her life, she was a devoted single mom. She is survived by two beloved children, her daughter, Suzanne K. (Michael) Burnett of Germantown, Tennessee, and her son, Mark E. Casey of Boulder, Colorado. Also surviving are four grandchildren and their spouses (of whom she was immensely proud), Thomas (Alyson) Burnett of Washington, DC; Katherine Burnett (Michael) Koss, M.D., of Kirkland, Washington; and Caroline M. Casey and W. Evan Casey of Brooklyn, New York. Alice two great-grandchildren, Emma and Ryan Koss, were an additional joy to her life these past four years. Also surviving are 13 much-loved nieces and nephews. They are Maxine Anderson of Alliance, Nebraska; Richard Lovan of Manchester, Missouri; Jean Martin of Plano, Texas; Lawrence Lovan of Webster Groves, Missouri; Maxine Schuman of Sepulveda, California; Judith LeBlanc of Chesterfield, Missouri; Janice Keale of Des Peres, Missouri; Deborah Compton of St. Louis County, Missouri; Diana Sawyer of Boxford, Massachusetts; Anita Kemp of Fenelton, Pennsylvania; John Lovan of Mesa, Arizona, Pamela Norris of Mokane, Missouri; Leslie Whitley of Southern Shores, North Carolina and many great-nieces and great-nephews. The seven siblings who preceded her in death were the late Mary E. Lovan, Max Lovan, Eugene Lovan, Elizabeth Martin, Helen J. Evans, Elmer Lovan, and Donna Souder. In 1971, Alice married the Lester W. Tourville, who died in 1978. Later in life, Mel Tochtrop was Alice’s beloved companion for more than 25 years. Alice was a long-time member of the Maplewood United Methodist Church and later transferred her membership to Concord Trinity United Methodist Church. Alice enjoyed a wonderfully satisfying dual career. She was the Occupational Health Nurse at Sunnen Products for 32 years. During that time she started classes at Washington University, earning a B.S. degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree from George Warren Brown School of Social Work where she served as an Adjunct Professor. She worked part-time at Hyland Behavioral Health (St. Anthony’s Medical Center), teaching stress management classes for the community, serving on the Speaker’s Bureau, and as a counselor in Hyland’s Family Program. She was active on the Alumni Board of George Warren Brown School of Social Work for 10 years, fulfilling duties as chairperson of the Program Committee and served both as vice-president, and president of the organization. She was also active in the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing Alumni, helping organize both the 50th and 55th Reunions. Alice was passionate about her role as the Facilitator of the Missouri Osteoporosis Foundation Support Group from its inception in 1997 until her passing. She enjoyed the opportunity to spread knowledge about osteoporosis and related health issues. She delighted in mentoring social work students and served as Field Instructor for a number of students engaged in internships in non-traditional settings. After formal retirement at age 80, Alice moved into Friendship Village where she served as a board member, hall representative, a member of the wellness, caregiver, and retired nurses committees, and chair of the Village Care Center committee. Her latest project has been as an ambassador of the Music and Memory program for Friendship Village, to bring joy with music into the lives of people suffering from dementia, those in nursing homes, and other senior settings. Alice was active with a number of health-related and civic organizations. She was committed to promoting health—physical, emotional, and spiritual. She frequently volunteered in studies being conducted at the Washington University Department of Psychology, and was a participant in the Washington University Memory and Aging Study for 15 years. Alice was surrounded by her loving family when she passed away with congestive heart disease. She and her family were blessed with the care and loving support of the Mercy Hospice staff, friends, and relatives. Her body was donated to the Washington University Medical School. Services Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at the chapel at Friendship Village Sunset Hills, 12563 Village Circle Drive, 63127, on October 3 at 1:30. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The Friendship Foundation, Attn. Kate Myers, for the Music and Memory program. Donations may also be made to the Mercy Health Foundation, Hospice Memorial Fund, 615 S. New Ballas Road, St. Louis, MO 63141

Alice Tourville

March 15, 1930 - September 19, 2016