Alice Dinsmore Gurd Casey, 97

The full life of Alice Dinsmore Gurd Casey, 97, ended May 11, 2005, at Heritage Place in Kalispell, where she had received many years of loving care.

Alice was born Sept. 7, 1907, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to John Abram Curd and Alice Lee. Soon after, her family moved to New Milford, N.J., where she lived until her early 80s (when she joined much of her family in Montana).

Alice attended the All Student's League in New York City, where she met and married James P. Casey, whom she later divorced. She had four children and raised them through the Depression as a busy working single morn. During World War II, Alice worked at Bendix Aviation, but for many years she was the director of the New Milford, N.J. Public Library, where she particularly enjoyed children's service.

Alice was a gifted researcher, and loved reading, traveling (especially by train), and the arts. Alice read to her children every night, and took them on many trips to the great museums and galleries of New York. She was a long-time member of the Paramus, N.J. Central Unitarian Church. Her three trips to Europe were among the highlights of her life, the last one being with two of her grandchildren when she was 71. She also treasured her multiple trips to Star Island, in the Isles of Shoals in New Hampshire.

Alice is survived by her sister, Jeanne (Mrs. Ernest) Brown of Arizona; her daughter, Peggy, of Kalispell; son, James Patrick Casey and daughter-in-law, Mary Ann Casey, of Smithville, Texas; daughter-in-law, Marlene, and grandsons, Scott and Stephen Casey of New Milford. She also leaves grandson, Daniel Casey, his wife, Susannah, and great-granddaughters, Lauren and Hannah Alice of Somers; grandson, James Patrick Casey and wife, Vicki, of Houston; granddaughter, Barbara Colson, husband, Billy, and great-grandchildren, Brian and Molly of Smithville, Texas.

Alice was preceded in death by her sister, Katheryn Gurd; brother, John Gurd; and children, Joan Casey and Tim Casey.

As per Alice's wishes, there will be no service, and her ashes will be scattered in a place near and dear to her heart. The family asks that friends enjoy a book with a child in Alice's honor.