February 10, 1953 - September 7, 2020

Alice Louise (Ellestad) Fritz passed away peacefully with her daughters surrounding her on Sept. 7, 2020, after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia. If you find encouragement in a child’s laugh, intense love of family, love for God, thoughtful mentoring of others or passionate beliefs about justice, pause and think of Alice. She was loved by many in her community for mastering all of these.

There was never any doubt that her love was greatest for her children and grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her son Arnold Fritz (1982-1996) and her father Vernon Ellestad (1919-2010), brother Roger Ellestad (1957-2014) and many others whom she is now embracing. She is survived by her daughter Renee Hopkins, son-in-law Max Booher and granddaughter Claire Evelyn Cunningham, 14) her daughter Nyla Fritz; and her daughter Lenea Fritz, son-in-law Jeff Panagos and grandsons Jonah Panagos, 12)and Baylor Panagos, 9. Alice is also survived by her mother Evelyn (Evie) Ellestad (1926), with whom she shared an incredibly close relationship that was admired by many. She also leaves behind her siblings Larry Ellestad with wife Susan and daughter Sundae Delgado and Tom Ellestad with wife Marla and sons Glen and Mark Ellestad, her niece Samantha Weldon, and her dear friend Shannon Hintz and many other friends and family who loved her dearly.

Alice was born on Feb. 10, 1953, in northern Minnesota. Before she was a year old, Vern and Evie moved their family to Prineville, Oregon, and then Moses Lake, Washington, the following year.

Alice grew up in Moses Lake, and then raised her four children there. Alice was always a caretaker of many other children in her community, sharing love and laughter with them and their parents. When her children were older, Alice worked for the school district and her church.

Alice was raised Lutheran, and the church was a vital part of her life. She could articulate her beliefs better than most and she did so often. At her death, she clung to the love of her God and hope in heaven. Her hope in heaven was accentuated by her need to be reunited with her beloved son Arnie Fritz, who died when he was 14 years old in the 1996 Frontier Junior High School shooting. Part of Alice died that day, and she would not be fully alive again until heaven. The rest of her life was spent loving on her family, exploring the arts, literature and poetry, and using her voice as an articulate activist for gun violence prevention with Grandmothers Against Gun Violence (GAGV). GAGV Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded after the tragedy in Sandy Hook, dedicated to eliminating gun violence in America.

Alice dedicated much of the final 18 months of her life deeply involved with the work of Spark Central. It combined her passion for art and transforming the lives of young people. She always said that the only way Arnie could have been saved would have been to save the boy who killed him. Spark provided her an opportunity to combine that belief with her passion and talent in the arts. Spark Central is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that ignites the creativity, innovation, and imagination necessary for people to forge the path to their best future. They break down barriers to creativity like cost, confidence and access by offering transformative programs, access to innovative technology and a welcoming creative community for youth, teens, and even adults of all economic backgrounds.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Alice Fritz to Spark Central, 1214 W, Summit Parkway, Spokane, WA 99201, https://spark-central.org, 509-279-0299 or to Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, 140 Lakeside Ave, Suite A-69, Seattle, WA 98122, https://www.grandmothersagainstgunviolence.org, gagvfoundation@gmail.com.

Due to Covid-19, there is not a service planned at this time.