Gaynelle Tice

Gaynelle Tice, 89, of Perry, Iowa, passed away on Monday, June 1, 2026, at the Eden Acres Campus of Perry Lutheran Homes.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church in Perry. Visitation will take place two hours prior to the service, beginning at 9:00 a.m., at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church in Perry or the Perry Public Library. Online condolences may be left at www.caldwellparrish.com.

Gaynelle was born on April 20, 1937, in Beech, Iowa, the daughter of Sloan and Arlene (Feight) King. She was raised on a farm in the Searsboro area, where she learned the discipline of hard work, study, & taking care of others. She graduated from Searsboro High School in 1954 at the age of 17, having completed her education a year early. On July 10, 1955, she was united in marriage to Raoul "Ray" Leigh Tice in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Gaynelle was a devoted homemaker whose family was always at the center of her life. She deeply loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and treasured every opportunity to spend time with them.

A longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Perry, Gaynelle faithfully served her church through countless committees and activities over the years. She was a self-taught reflexologist who found great joy in caring for others.

At the age of 10, Gaynelle learned to sew from her mother, Arlene, and quickly discovered a lifelong passion. Beginning in 1964, she started sewing for customers in Creston & after moving to Perry in 1967, her customer base grew from those in Perry to include the surrounding communities. From everyday clothing and alterations to beautiful wedding dresses, her talent and attention to detail were appreciated by many.

In the last 20 years, she developed a love for quilting and poured that same love into every stitch. Grandchildren often received a handmade quilt when they married, and new babies were welcomed with quilts of their own. Several of Gaynelle's beautiful quilts are displayed at Eden Acres, where they continue to bring warmth and comfort to others.

She and Ray shared a love for adventure and were avid motorcycle enthusiasts, visiting 44 states together on two wheels. Gaynelle loved music, enjoyed playing the piano, and had a beautiful singing voice. She was an avid reader who visited the library regularly and treasured every opportunity to pass on her love of reading to her grandchildren. She had a wonderful sense of humor, loved to laugh, and enjoyed making others smile.

Gaynelle enjoyed gardening and made sure her children spent plenty of time in the garden as well. She was a gifted baker whose holiday treats became family traditions. Every Christmas, her family eagerly anticipated her homemade divinity and fudge, recipes that no one has quite been able to duplicate yet. She was also well known for her red cake topped with Seven-Minute frosting. To this day some of her grandchildren request 'Grandma's Red Cake recipe' for their birthdays. Deliciousness!'

Her kindness, talents, sense of humor, and unwavering devotion to her family created a legacy that will be cherished for generations.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sloan and Arlene King; her beloved husband of 68 years, Ray Tice; and her brothers, Farol, Gerald, and Jack King.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Cheri (Kent) Scheib of Perry, Tony (Holly) Tice of Perry, Nancy Tice of Perry, and Mike (Joan) Tice of Woodland Park, Colorado; her grandchildren, Blake (Jenica) Scheib, Kelli (Jeremy) Petersen, Ian Tice (Katlyn Wood), Bonnie (Chad) Wright, Megan (Brian) Martin, Molly (Brent) Rowe, Daniel Graney, Emily Tice (Tyler Prall), Grant Tice, and Mason Tice; her great-grandchildren, Asher Scheib, Jimmer, Cam, and Pierce Petersen, Oliver and Finn Tice, Gabe and Gavin Wright, Michael Martin, and Brock, Berkley, and Luke Rowe; her older sister, Carol Sparks; younger sister, Aprile Goodman; and her sisters-in-law, Darlene King and Janet Maudlin; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of Eden Acres Campus at Perry Lutheran Homes for the exceptional care, compassion, and friendship they provided to Gaynelle during the last years of her life. Their kindness and genuine love brought comfort to both Gaynelle and her family, and they truly became like family to her.

The family would also like to thank Pastor Brian Bopp for his faithful visits, friendship, and spiritual care. His time spent with Gaynelle, along with sharing his gifts of music through singing and playing for her, brought her great joy and comfort.