Alice Louise Smith was born on October 18, 1910, to Jacob Grayson Smith and Louise Augusta Boettner Smith, their third child and only daughter. Alice was dubbed "Petey" early in life by her two older brothers, Howard and Paul, and the name stayed with her all her life.
She lived with her family in a big old white house in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, the original stone part dating back prior to the Revolutionary War, and the larger, white part of the house being added in the early 1800's.
She earned her bachelor's degree from Douglas College, the women's branch of Rutgers University, and taught school for many years.
She married David W. Brown, and she and David had two children, David I. Brown and Tina Louise Brown. Alice and David enjoyed more than 50 years together before he predeceased her in 1994. Her daughter, Tina Brown Wells, also predeceased her in 2008.
Alice (Petey) was famous for her wonderful sense of humor and the stories she could tell of her youth, and she was renowned for her gracious role as hostess for many wonderful family dinners at holidays. She dearly loved her family and grandchildren, and had many lifelong friends. She was also famous for her youthful looks and her youthful outlook on life, and her beautiful dark hair barely showed any gray strands even when she was 100 years old. She never colored her hair in any way---there was no need to!
Her last years were shared with her high school classmate and friend of many years, Harry Hallman, who was one year older than Petey. Both Harry and Petey lived to celebrate their 100th birthdays with family and friends. Sadly, Harry passed on shortly after Petey's 100th birthday.
She was a beloved member of her Haddon Heights community, which named her as "Mrs. Haddon Heights" and chose her as their Parade Marshall in a July 4th parade when she was in her late 90's.
She and Harry were able to live independently until their last few years, at which point aides were hired to help care for them in their home. In November 2011 Petey's health had declined to the point that she needed a nursing home, and it was here that she passed into eternity on May 23, 2012, aged 101 and 6 months.
Alice Louise Smith was born on October 18, 1910, to Jacob Grayson Smith and Louise Augusta Boettner Smith, their third child and only daughter. Alice was dubbed "Petey" early in life by her two older brothers, Howard and Paul, and the name stayed with her all her life.
She lived with her family in a big old white house in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, the original stone part dating back prior to the Revolutionary War, and the larger, white part of the house being added in the early 1800's.
She earned her bachelor's degree from Douglas College, the women's branch of Rutgers University, and taught school for many years.
She married David W. Brown, and she and David had two children, David I. Brown and Tina Louise Brown. Alice and David enjoyed more than 50 years together before he predeceased her in 1994. Her daughter, Tina Brown Wells, also predeceased her in 2008.
Alice (Petey) was famous for her wonderful sense of humor and the stories she could tell of her youth, and she was renowned for her gracious role as hostess for many wonderful family dinners at holidays. She dearly loved her family and grandchildren, and had many lifelong friends. She was also famous for her youthful looks and her youthful outlook on life, and her beautiful dark hair barely showed any gray strands even when she was 100 years old. She never colored her hair in any way---there was no need to!
Her last years were shared with her high school classmate and friend of many years, Harry Hallman, who was one year older than Petey. Both Harry and Petey lived to celebrate their 100th birthdays with family and friends. Sadly, Harry passed on shortly after Petey's 100th birthday.
She was a beloved member of her Haddon Heights community, which named her as "Mrs. Haddon Heights" and chose her as their Parade Marshall in a July 4th parade when she was in her late 90's.
She and Harry were able to live independently until their last few years, at which point aides were hired to help care for them in their home. In November 2011 Petey's health had declined to the point that she needed a nursing home, and it was here that she passed into eternity on May 23, 2012, aged 101 and 6 months.
