The Miller familyYou could usually find Mary Alyce Miller working the candy counter at Husky Deli, the West Seattle store she called home for more than 70 years. Her nephew Jack Miller credits her for keeping the store running during wartime while other family members were fighting on the front lines. I never met Mary Alyce, but we had a lot in common, including our birthday (November 15), our West Seattle neighborhood, and our love of black licorice. I found out today that Mary Alyce’s favorite was the Licorice Katz, which stick to your teeth like glue. Jack gave me a couple to sample. They were hard as rocks, but I loved them because I knew Mary Alyce loved them. I feel a sort of kinship with this woman, even though I never met her.Mary Alyce died August 22nd. Jack was still receiving condolences today from customers who had just heard the news. As he scooped ice cream for a constant stream of children and their moms, he was just as busy interspersing “Would you like a sugar or waffle cone?” with phrases like, “We miss her” and “She was one of a kind.”Mary Alyce’s rosary and vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, followed by her Funeral Mass there at 1030 a.m. tomorrow.The West Seattle blog wrote a nice little piece on Mary Alyce if you’d like to learn more about her.