MARS HILL – Alice L. Whitney passed away peacefully Saturday, June 27, 2009, at a Portland hospital. She was born June 23, 1929, to Guy and Margaret (Davidson) Lilley. On Tuesday she celebrated her 80th birthday with a large gathering of family at the home of her daughter, Margaret. Her dear friends, Tom and Cathy Herbert, also attended. Alice will be remembered for her love of family, generosity, hard work and indomitable spirit. Mrs. Whitney graduated from Bridgewater Classical Academy, and years later, after her husband became ill, graduated from Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute with a nursing degree. For many years Alice was a nurse in Presque Isle and Portland hospitals before moving to Florida, where she was a critical care unit nurse at Waterman Hospital for many years until her retirement. Alice was a highly respected nurse, a profession she clearly loved. Prior to becoming a nurse, she and her husband, Evan, were potato farmers for many years and raised their children on their farm in Bridgewater. Like her husband, Alice was passionate about farming, and the two often worked side by side growing 200 acres of potatoes and raising cattle. Alice churned and sold her own butter, which was highly sought after in town. She was known for setting the noon table for at least 12, always insisting that “hired hands” come in for a hot meal with the family. She baked from scratch and was an excellent cook. Some joked that they liked to work for Evan because of Alice’s cooking. Alice was most content when caring for her family and working the earth. Even during the last three years of ill health, she held out hope of becoming well enough to return to her home to plant another vegetable garden. She is survived by her sons, Paul Parks and his wife, Connie, Max Parks and his fianc?, Sally, Mark Parks, Michael Parks and his wife, Yolanda, Milan Parks and his wife, Sheryl; daughters, Margaret Welch and her husband, Stuart, Marsha Kearney and her husband, Frank, Marie Bell and her husband, Bryan; grandchildren, Travis, Wade, Heather, Meredith, Shawn, Kristen, Matthew, Laura, Amanda, Mark, Evan, Kasey, Karter, Kramer, Katie, Michael, Alicia, A’Drien; and great-grandchildren, Evan, Ellie, Gage, Hardin, Frankie, Joshua, Landen, Lily, Evan, Emma, Alijeh, Jacob, James, Jordanne, Brandon, Stephen, Helena, Miribah, Chloe, Lilly, Sophie, Hillary, Tyler and Isabelle. She was predeceased by her first husband, Evan W. Parks, in 1971; husband Charles Whitney, in 1995; her daughter, Maxine Parks Anderson; and grandsons, Frankie Kearney, Kalen Bell and Evan R. Parks. She was also predeceased by a very special friend, Pat Carroll. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at Duncan Funeral Home, 8 Main St., Mars Hill, with the Rev. Gerry Dill officiating. Friends may call 1 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home. Interment will be after the service at Smith Cemetery, Bridgewater. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Alice’s memory to Maine Leukemia Foundation, 321 Wilson Pond Road, North Monmouth, ME 04265. Condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.
ALICE LILLEY PARKS WHITNEY
