Alice 'Carol' Gruver, restaurant hostess

Alice "Carol" Gruver, 66, of Harrington, passed away Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, at her home.

Her parents were the late Anna Elise and Elias E. Riker Sr. Carol graduated from Bridgewater Raritan High School in New Jersey. She worked as a cocktail waitress and managed several restaurants in her lifetime. She recently worked as a hostess at Midway Slots in Harrington for over 10 years. Carol enjoyed her family and loved spending time with them. She loved Thomas Kinkade paintings and putting his puzzles together.

She loved taking care of her animals, eating chocolate and Chinese food, and going to the movies. She loved watching cop shows, such as CSI and Missing Persons. Carol was very outgoing, and saw the good in everybody. She loved to laugh and make others laugh. She was a loving and genuine person, and a born nurturer. She will be sorely missed.

Carol was a member of the Lewes-Rehoboth Moose Lodge and the VFW and American Legion of Rehoboth. She was preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey Higgins.

She is survived by her loving and blessed husband, Richard Gruver of Harrington; son, John Higgins Jr. of Provo, Utah; daughters, Janette Higgins of Milford and Sue Higgins of Harrington; brothers Elias Riker of Lewes and Charles Riker of New Jersey; sisters, AnnaLeta Mariner of Lewes and Catherine Riker of Felton; grandchildren, Brandi, Shian, Cheryl, Ariel, Angeline, Michael, Vincent, Hannah, Cassie, Taylor and Hayley; great-grandchildren, Christy, Mason and Audrianna.

Memorial Service will be 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3, at Melvin Funeral Home, 15522 South DuPont Hwy., Harrington. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. After services a gathering will be held at Harrington Moose Lodge; covered dishes are welcome. Interment will be private.