Alice Gayetta Jefferson

Our beloved mother and Gamoo, Alice Gayetta (Gulley) Jefferson, passed away on January 15,
2025, at the age of 81, at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, AR.

Born on December 4, 1943, in Clovis, NM, to Edward Jennings ‘EJ’ Gully and Lela May (Nelson)
Gulley, Alice lived in west Texas until moving to Cave Springs, AR when she was in elementary
school. She graduated from Bentonville High School in May of 1962, and moved to Washington
DC to work for the FBI. Alice was later assigned to the Anchorage, AK field office with ex-
husband Jim Jefferson. They often told stories of living in Alaska, both remembering it with
fondness and lots of laughs.

Alice spent the majority of her professional career at Walmart, where she began as a Buyer’s
Assistant and retired as a Business Analyst 26 years later. In 1995, Alice went to China to train
the office staff for the new stores slated to open in 1996. She remained in China for almost 5
years before briefly moving to Germany in 2000, then returning home to Bentonville. Alice was
known for being friendly and helpful, and having the knowledge only a WM Old-Timer could
possess.

Alice enjoyed traveling (highlights include Ireland with her sister Betty and a transatlantic
maiden cruise ship voyage), her dogs (and yours!), trying new recipes, and getting out in the
yard. She also loved the theatre and spent many years attending shows with family and friends.
After first seeing Les Misérables in Hong Kong in 1996, Alice and Missy lost count of the times
they enjoyed their favorite Les Mis together. Alice listened to the music in her car so much that
she needed a new CD!

Her truest, greatest joy was being Hayden’s Gamoo.

Alice loved taking care of Hayden and Missy. She cooked dinner for them each night, ran
errands, folded laundry . . . whatever she could do to help. Everyone should have a Gamoo who
loves them as well as she loved us. Her willingness to lend a hand extended to all who knew
her.

Alice was preceded in death by her first child, James Steven Jefferson (September 17, 1965-
June 16, 1966), her parents, and six of her seven siblings.

Alice’s memory will be carried forward by her daughter, Stephanie ‘Missy’ Mayhall, and the
center of her universe grandson, Hayden Joseph Mayhall, both of Bentonville, AR, as well as her
sister Betty Jo Renner of Temple TX, many nieces and nephews, and chosen family and friends.
Missy and Hayden would like to thank Robbie Hubbard of Bentonville, AR, Andyrea Crowner of
Elizabeth, CO, and Kelly Thesing of Brownsville, MN, for your constant presence and support.
We are grateful to have you beside us. Thank you also for how much you loved Alice, and how
much happiness each of you brought to her life.

A graveside celebration (with bubbles!) will be held at 10 am on March 1, 2025, at Benton County
Memorial Gardens, under the direction of Epting Funeral Home.

If you loved Alice, please consider donating to a local animal shelter or local animal rescue
organization in her honor. She would also encourage you to *adopt* your next bestie, and to
consider adopting a senior pet or the one who has been at the shelter the longest.
We love you, Gamoo . . . we will take care of each other, make the spaghetti sauce, and wear
purple. You will be missed every single day.