Alice Jean Leehey passed away at Ravenwood Specialty Care in Waterloo on August 18, 2021. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Friday September 3, 2021 with visitation from 9:30-11:00 at Woods Funeral Home in Fairbank, Iowa. Inurnment will be in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery immediately after the service.  There will be a Celebration of her Life after the inurnment, at the Union Station 1736 16^th Ave. SW Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Alice was born November 7, 1938 to parents Floyd and Dorothy (Clark) Nelson in Perry, Iowa. During her high school years, Alice played in the state girls basketball tournament for Perry High School, later graduating in 1957. She met and married Ray (Ike) Cook on October 4, 1958. They became parents to five rambunctious boys: Douglas, Donald, Dennis, Tom, and Scott. When asked about raising five boys Alice would quip “I would rather raise five boys then five girls any day.” Ike passed away in 1977.  As a single mom, Alice provided a loving, stable home to her boys. Kids in their SW side neighborhood also lovingly referred to Alice as “Mom.”

Alice played Cedar Rapids women’s softball and bowled on city leagues. In 1981, Alice married Jim Leehey in Arkansas. Together they ran a trucking business; first in Cedar Rapids and later in Oelwein where they moved. She enjoyed going to casinos and was a killer Scrabble player. She had a quick wit yet a soft heart.

Preceding Alice in death were her parents, her brother Lloyd, sisters Doris and Peggy, husbands Ike and Jim, and son Doug.

Surviving to celebrate her life and honor her memory are sons Don (Mona) Cook, Dennis (Melody) Cook, Tom (Hodgie) Cook, Scott Cook, and daughter-in-law Dawn Cook; siblings Harold (Nancy) Nelson, Robert (Karen) Nelson, Sally (Al) Childs, Jack (Cathy) Nelson, and John (Nancy) Nelson. The circle of Alice’s life continues in her grandchildren and great- grandchildren. The family thanks Eva Monaghan for her friendship to the end. The family compliments Ravenwood staff for the care they provided Alice the last five years.