Alyce Faye Avera Blitch

July 4, 1935 - February 3, 2022

Alyce Faye Avera Blitch, age 86 of Gainesville, passed away Thursday, February 3, 2022. She was born July 4, 1935, in Williston, Florida to Ralph Avera, Sr. and Lois Henderson Avera. She adored her family and shared her formative years in her home with her father, mother, brother Ralph, and cousin Robert A. Turner making wonderful memories along the way. Daughter of a sharecropper, she grew up poor during the Great Depression on ten acres in rural Levy County without running water or electricity in their humble wooden see-through cracker house with a tin roof and outdoor toilet. Although they did not have a car, they did have a wagon and mule they used to trek three miles into town to Williston when needed; she was very fortunate to ride the bus to school daily. They heated their home with a fireplace and bathed in a #3 washtub by the fire. It wasn’t until she married her sweetheart, Don Blitch, that she had electricity and indoor plumbing. Although she grew up poor financially, they were rich in spirit and love and lacked nothing. Alyce Faye, a Williston High School alumna and beloved classmate, was a cheerleader and sponsor, was in student council, FHA, Junior and Senior Play, played the French horn in band, played basketball, was voted most popular and was a homecoming queen. She met her future husband, Don Blitch, while he was home on leave from the Navy, on a blind double date. She graduated from Massey Business College in Jacksonville, FL and later worked for the Salvation Army. Alyce Faye grew up singing in church from a young age and continued to sing throughout her life; she especially loved singing in trios, sextets, and in the choir. She also loved teaching children Sunday school and Vacation Bible School for many years. She spent countless hours in her flower gardens, tenderly and lovingly cultivating a wide array of beautiful showy blooms in all types and colors for everyone to see by giving them tours of her yard each year and giving flowers and plants to others. Her contagious laughter and smile filled the room wherever she was. Alyce Faye, a coach’s wife, was not only a “mom” to many who played sports for her husband, but she was also considered a second mom to children in the neighborhood who often found themselves at her home daily, playing with her own children and joining in on family meals. She loved those children as her own and always made sure the neighborhood children had a home to stay in and food to eat. Most of all, Alyce Faye loved her family. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who spent many summers on Lake Santa Fe watching her children swim, play and ski, loving every moment of it. As her children grew and grandchildren came along, she was present at her son’s and grandson’s football, baseball and basketball games, scouting events, daughter’s choir and church plays, and granddaughter’s dance and voice recitals. She was ever present and was so proud of her family. Alyce Faye was loved by many. She had a deep love and respect for her Lord and Savior and looked forward to meeting him in person one day. That day was realized when she crossed the threshold into glory and is now worshipping at the feet of Jesus and rejoicing with the saints. There is no doubt her singing and laughter fills the heavens, and her gardens are an array of splendor for all to enjoy. She would want us all to know how incredible it is being with Jesus there in her heavenly home. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 68 years, Donald Aullie Blitch, Sr.; four children, Donald A. Blitch, Jr. and wife Diana, Mikel I. Blitch and wife Missy, Randall A. Blitch and wife Andrea, Jennifer B. Talton and husband Chuck. 10 grandchildren, Rebecca, Alyssa, Donald, Mikel-Ryan, Meghan, Sarah, Lucas, Hannah, Jacob and Joshua. 14 great-grandchildren, Harper, Austin, Jaiden, Elysa, Axton, Carson, Afton, Madelyn, Emma, Anna, Layla, Noah, Harrison, and Henry. She is also survived by her brother Ralph Avera, Jr. Alyce Faye’s Celebration of Life will be held at The Oaks Church in Gainesville with Pastor Danny Austin officiating on Saturday, February 12, 2022. Family and friends fellowship time begins at 10:00 am with the service following at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, Alyce Faye requested that donations for Parkinson’s research be made in her memory to the UF Foundation, PO 100243, Gainesville, FL 32610. Donations will be used for research at the UF Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases. Online donations are also accepted at fixel.ufhealth.org.