Mary Alyce Miller, known as Alyce to generations of people in West Seattle for her many years at Husky Deli passed away Aug 22.

Born in Peru, Indiana in 1919, she came to Seattle with her family in the early 1930's. Her father, Herman Miller founded Husky Deli in 1932. It is now located at 4721 California Avenue Southwest.

She worked every day since 1936, aside from vacations, until Aug. 10. She died Sunday at approximately 5:30 pm.

Her oldest niece, Beth Miller said, "She was just a very, very dear person. She had twenty nieces and nephews, all of whom loved her dearly." When she took vacations she would sometimes travel with Beth. "We just had so much fun traveling together her and I, she was just the best traveling companion to have a lot fun with. She was just like a big sister for me because she didn't have a family of her own, so I could grab her as a big sister. She was my best friend too."

Her sister in law, Marie Miller and mother of Jack Miller, who now operates Husky Deli, said, "I have lots of memories. She loved her dogs, she had cocker spaniels, three or four through the years (...) She had two beautiful rose gardens and she loved the store. That was her first love."

Jack echoed this, "Even on her death bed she was worried because she hadn't placed some of the orders. She was like, 'Jack, honey, I didn't do the wholesale order and I haven't got the Christmas order in.' She was like that all the way to the end. She had to get better. She told the doctor, 'I don't care what you do, I've got to get out of here.' She needed to come back to work."

Alyce was a fixture at the store since 1936. During World War II "She ran the store," said Marie, "because the three brothers were in the war." During that time many kinds of food were rationed and it was her responsibility to deal with all the government coupons that permitted a purchase.

A vigil will be held for her on Friday, Aug. 27 at 7pm at Holy Rosary Church, 4139 42nd Avenue Southwest.

Her memorial service will take place at Holy Rosary at 10:30am on Saturday Aug. 28. in 1932.