Alice Marie Cress Pantoja, 81, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away early Saturday morning, April
30, 2016, at Mercy Hospital Joplin after several years of declining health.
Alice was born November 1, 1934, in Monett, Missouri, to Floyd E. Cress and Hazel Marie (Reed) Cress. She was preceded in death by three brothers: Paul Cress (wife Margie,deceased), Floyd Cress (wife Norma, still living), and Francis Cress (wife Marcia, deceased).
As a child, Alice moved with her family to Joplin, Missouri, and grew up here. She was a member of the Joplin Senior High School Class of 1952, proudly receiving her GED later in life with the help of her children. Her first job was in Joplin with B.C. Christopher, located on the mezzanine of the old Connor Hotel. She worked there for two years.Then she was employed by Markwardt's Quality Bakery (famously known for Polka Dot Bread) for two years and stayed on for another year when the company was sold to Wonder Bread.
Alice next went to work for Mickey Mantle's Holiday Inn, which was located in Joplin at 26th and
Range Line. There she worked in sales and catering and met many baseball players who traveled through the area. After a couple of years at Mickey Mantle's, she moved to Tulsa and went to work for Gleason Roman's Pipeline Patrol.
In 1960, Alice's life changed dramatically. She met Pedro Javier Pantoja at Western Hills Lodge
in Hulbert, Oklahoma, where she was working. Pedro was a student at Oklahoma State
University and was working there when they met. Pedro is from Torreon, Mexico, and became a
naturalized U.S. citizen. They were married July 22, 1961, on the streets of Laredo, Texas, with a shoeshine boy serving as best man. Pedro says Alice was a remarkable woman for agreeing to follow him...taking a Greyhound bus from Joplin to Laredo to marry him. Over the years they made friends all over the country and throughout the world.
They moved to Norwalk, Connecticut, for Pedro's first job, which was in New York City. They
lived in Norwalk for 12 years and then moved to Manzanilla, Mexico, for six months, where they
were "beach bums" and watched the beautiful sunsets every evening. Then they lived in
Houston for a year, where Pedro worked for Kennecott Copper.
In Norwalk, Alice worked for Lyons Construction Company for two years. Her work history also
included two years at Univac (Universal Automatic Computer), one of the early computer
companies.
One of Alice's proudest achievements came during the time she lived in Norwalk. She and
Pedro took over the Little League organization in town and expanded and integrated the local
teams so that every child in the league got to play baseball.
The Pantojas moved to Joplin and bought the Star Country Store at 7th and Duquesne, along
with gas pumps and property where they rented trailer homes and cabin apartments (later
known as Greystone Apartments). On another corner of 7th and Duquesne was the Kappa
Alpha Fraternity House. The college boys who lived there "adopted" Alice as their house mother,
and she and Pedro had lots of great times there. Pedro continued his employment with his
Houston employer, operating out of Joplin. They owned the Star Country Store from July 1,
1973, until 1985. They also helped many young people financially so that they could attend
college.
Over the years, Alice and Pedro raised three sons and became deeply involved in the Joplin
community. Alice had a bubbly personality and had friends beyond measure. She was always a
great encourager of young women (and men), often taking them under her wing and assisting
them in any way possible.
Alice chaired countless events in the community and raised money (and contributed lots of her
own) for many causes. She served on the boards of numerous organizations, many of which
elected her president.
Organizations in which she was involved include: Soroptimist International of Joplin (president
and board member), Woman's Club of Joplin (president and board member), Spiva Center for
the Arts (board member), Joplin Community Clinic (treasurer and board member), Joplin
Workshops (board member), Joplin Salvation Army (board member), Missouri Southern
International Piano Competition (president and board member), Joplin Little Theatre, Heartland
Opera Theatre, and Joplin Humane Society (board member).
She was a key player in the establishment of Joplin's Children's Center. She also helped fund
The Children's Haven in Joplin, and she was the one who suggested the name Lafayette House
for the area's shelter for abused women and children. The shelter is housed in Joplin's former
Lafayette School, and it seemed fitting to carry on the Lafayette name.
One of Alice's great loves was animals, and during her lifetime she had many dogs and cats,
loving them all like family. She was very instrumental in getting the land donated for the new
Joplin Humane Society as well as being a primary player in getting the new facility built on North
Main Street.
She helped start several women's investment clubs in the area. Alice also was always active on
the political scene. Not only was she the Mayor of Duquesne Village, but she held fundraisers of
all sorts in her home for various candidates. Once she even won as a write-in for the opposite
party! She often encouraged women to get involved in politics and to make a difference in their
communities.
Alice was named Best Woman of the Year in 2009 by Soroptimist International of Joplin. This
was a fitting recognition after all the years she served the organization and the many women,
children and peers she helped through this club, of which she was a life member.
Alice helped establish the Soroptimist memorial tree planting program, whereby a tree is planted
at Missouri Southern State University at the passing of a Soroptimist member. A tree will be
planted in her memory.
In addition to all her work, her family, and community involvement, Alice had lots of fun in life.
She had a group of close friends known as the "Dinghy Sisters." They shared many trips, gettogethers
and great times filled with Alice's infectious laughter. They will miss her deeply.
Alice wanted it known that she watched the TV game show "Jeopardy" almost every day since
the show began. Everyone knew not to call her at 3:30 or 5:00, when Jeopardy was on!
Heaven is a little sweeter, the world a little emptier with Alice gone. We will miss her terribly.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband Pedro; son Lawrence Allen Miller and wife
Jane, Brookfield, Connecticut, and their three children, Ken Miller, Dan Miller, and Zoe Miller;
son Gary Lee Miller, Tulsa; son Michael David Pantoja and wife Tina, Houston; sister-in-law
Norma Cress, Joplin; many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends; and her precious puppy
dogs, Birdie and Cha Cha.
Visitation will be Friday, May 6, from 5 to 7pm, at Mason-Woodard Mortuary, Joplin. A memorial
celebration of Alice's life will be held Saturday, May 7, at 11am at First Community Church, 2007
E. 15th St., Joplin, with Father Justin Monaghan presiding.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mason-Woodard Mortuary of Joplin, Missouri.
Alice wished to be cremated. Her final resting place will be at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, Joplin,
in the area where many of her family members are buried.
In lieu of flowers, Alice requested that contributions in her memory be made to the Joplin
Humane Society, 140 Emperor Rd., Joplin, MO 64801
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