Laing

Mary Alice Laing, 87, of Slippery Rock, passed away quietly late Friday even-ing at home.

Born Dec. 6, 1918, in Tarentum, she was the daughter of Albert and Florence Pfeil.

She was an active member of Central Presbyterian Church of Tarentum in her youth, and Grandview United Presbyterian Church of Mount Washington, Pittsburgh, for years until moving to Bedford, Pa., and then to Slippery Rock in 1973.

Mary Laing is survived by a son, William Laing, of Harrisville; two daughters, Mary Joan Austin of Phoenix, Ariz., and Boblyn Austin of Manhattan, N.Y.; a brother, Herbert Pfeil of Tarentum; four grandchildren, Laura Hanks of Huntington Beach, Calif., Carl and Michael Seel of Phoenix and David Cohen of Manhattan; as well as five great-grandchildren, Connor and Summer Hanks and Matthew, Nathaniel and John Seel.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Pfeil; a sister Jean; and two husbands, Frank Austin, who died in 1974, and William Laing, who died in 1984.

She was employed by Hornes Department Store in Pittsburgh for years.

Mary Alice loved playing piano and singing — in church choirs, musicals and weddings, in a trio with her two daughters, in club ensembles with her son and at the Grove City Country Club.

She was an active participant in life, enjoying many academic pursuits, was a family historian, loved crossword puzzles and politics and even attended Slippery Rock University at the age of 65.

She also loved traveling — especially visiting her children when they lived in Maryland, Virginia, Texas, New York, Arizona, California and Pennsylvania. She had a natural energetic healing ability and an amazing sense of humor, which she passed on to her children.

<B>LAING </B>— Burial for Mary Alice Laing, who died Friday, Sept. 8, 2006, is at Prospect Cemetery in Brackenridge, Pa.; a memorial service will be held out of town later.Arrangements are being handled by <B>Smith Funeral Home</B>, Slippery Rock.