Alice Kirkwood Birdsall

Alice Kirkwood (McGirr) Birdsall, 83, of Gilbert, AZ, passed away on her 83rd birthday, June 23, 2024. What a special, unique way to go home!

She was born on June 23, 1941 to Johnny and Elizabeth (Kirkwood) McGirr in Glasgow, Scotland. She was the oldest of 5 children.

As an ambitious 18 year old, she bravely sailed across the ocean from Scotland to the United States to be a nanny for a doctors family in Ohio. She decided she wanted to call America home and became a US citizen.

She married into the military life and traveled the world. Alice lived in England, France, California, Saudi Arabia, Oklahoma, and Arizona. Along the way she raised a family of five children, that were her pride and joy!!

Alice enjoyed traveling and spending time with family and friends. She was an outgoing people person, who never met a stranger. She always had a smile on her face and loved unconditionally. She enjoyed her time with friends at the local VFW, including volunteer work. Her sons and daughter and their families were her greatest joy!!

She is survived by her sons Michael Illies and Stephen Illies of Phoenix, AZ; daughter Elizabeth Miller (Joe) of Gilbert, AZ; Donald Birdsall Jr. (Gina), of Harrisburg, NC and Bo Birdsall (Amparo) of Concord, NC, as well as her sister Frances McKenzie (John) of Glasgow, Scotland. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren (and 1 on the way), 23 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild.

Alice is preceded in death by her husband Donald Birdsall; her parents, 2 sisters Betty Grant and Jean Will; brother Johnny McGirr, brother-in-law Brian Will; and grandson Stephen Illies Jr.

A Memorial Service will be held in her honor at Whitney & Murphy Bueler Mortuary, 14 W. Hulet Drive, Chandler, AZ 85225 on Monday, July, 1, 2024 at 10:00 AM. A Private Burial will take place at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.

Friends and family are welcome to meet at Joe and Liz's home at 4:00pm.

The Memorial Service will also be streamed live on Zoom, at the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84889310003?pwd=6kQqy4UXzAktIRABrEN91hTQasGbJe.1

In Lieu of flowers, please donate to the Arizona Alzheimer's Association WWW.ALZ.ORG