Mary"Alice" Graham Harrop Blake died surrounded by family in her Rexburg home on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the age of 96.

Alice was born the first of four children to Violet Butt and Harry Vain Graham on June 3, 1916. Her parents were residing in Butte, Montana. Violet rode the train to Idaho where Alice was born at Grandpa and Grandma Butts' log cabin in Moody, Idaho.

Alice was academic by nature. She had a gifted mind which was apparent at a young age when she skipped 2nd grade. She excelled in school; education became a theme of her life as she continued to take college classes clear into her 80's.

In high school she learned and loved the skill of shorthand. This coupled with prompting from her father to go to school in case she might ever need to provide for herself, led her to seek the education necessary to become a teacher.

She attended Rick's College for two years, and then taught 1st through 4th grade in a one room school house in Moody for two years.

She continued her education at the University of Idaho where she received Bachelor's degree. She taught high school at Madison, Rigby and Bonneville for a combined 13 years, and Rick's College for six years before retiring.

She married Irvin V. Harrop on December 23, 1941 in the Rigby courthouse; they were later sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS temple. She taught high school prior to marrying Irvin; however, the law at the time said married women could not teach. Irvin offered to pay her school loans, but she was determined to do it herself. So she confronted the school principal and convinced him to let her teach one semester after she was married. Consequently, she paid her own loans before quitting work to be a wife and mother.

Irvin farmed in Labelle, Idaho where Alice and Irvin made a life and raised three children; Bob, Keith and Jeanine. Irvin died on March 26, 1973. Alice often said her dad was wise in his counsel to her to be prepared to work, as she did provide for herself and her daughter Jeanine following the death of Irvin.

In 1986, Alice served a full-time mission for the LDS church in the Ohio Akron Mission.

On June 9, 1987, Alice married Dean Blake a former high school classmate. They made their home in both Sun Valley and Rexburg.

Alice had a charming friendly nature and never knew a stranger. Even when she was very ill in her last days her doctors commented on how she always met them with a smile. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who will be remembered and missed.

Survived by her brother Dean Graham, Moody; Children Bob (LeeAnn), Labelle; Keith (Alice Ann), Decatur, Illinois; Jeanine Hansen (Clint), Rexburg; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Irvin V. Harrop; her second husband, Dean W. Blake; her mother and father; her sister Jesse Teeples and brother Forest Graham.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 21 at the Rexburg Center Stake Chapel on Summerwood Drive with Bishop Kevin Anderson officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the stake center prior to services. Interment will be in the Annis Little Butte Cemetery under the direction of Flamm Funeral Home.