CHARRON, Alice T.

Kingman Daily Miner, Kingman, AZ Wednesday, December 15, 2010 Alice T. Charron The world's largest heart, belonging to Alice T. Charron, unexpectedly stopped beating on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010, in Kingman after 87 years. Alice, born on Sept. 28, 1923, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to parents, Claude and Ann Ladue. Alice was a loving sister to her younger siblings, Grace, Claude and Claudia. Growing up in New York City during the '20s and '30s during an era where women in the professional workplace were scarce, Alice determined to succeed. She began her degree in Engineering at New York University in 1941, and completed her degree in California. Alice relocated to California in 1948 where she created a life for her two sons, Arthur and Neal, while working as an engineer for Northrop and other companies in the area of aerospace. She retired from Hughes Avionics in 1988. In "retirement," Alice continuously dedicated herself to staying active in her community as a crossing guard for Redondo Beach. She continued her love for dancing (where she won many ballroom contests). She spent much of her time visiting family, her two sons, nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. We all wanted Granny for the holidays but had to take turns. Many will remember Alice for her loving attitude, extreme generosity and immeasurable selflessness. You didn't have to know Alice well to know she was passionate about dancing, her favorite TV shows being "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance." She was always a joy to be around; her love of classic movies like "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Dirty Dancing." Alice was a classy lady, always dressed with clip earrings to match her outfit. Her love of books was an inspiration to all. You could always find her reading a great novel like Nicholas Sparks, John Grisham and Dan Brown. She also enjoyed playing slots and bingo in Laughlin, Nev., with family and friends and a glass of wine, always with ice. The stories she told were expressed in such a way that you knew you were a better person for having heard it. She always knew the right thing to say to make your day better and was sincere in caring about every conversation she had with a person. Alice was one of those people who imprinted values of honor, respect, wisdom and generosity on all of us. We can only hope to pass these values on to future generations. After spending almost 60 years in California, she relocated to Kingman in 2007 where she quickly made friends at St. Michaels Catholic Church, and could often be found taking her friends to church, shopping or their doctor appointments. Alice is survived by a sister, Claudia Trombly; brother, Claude LaDue and wife Peggy; her two sons, Arthur and his wife Linda from Las Vegas, and Neal and his wife Vicki in Kingman; nine grandchildren, Tammy Reidy, Terry Clark, Nancy Anderson, Buffy McHaney, Nicholas Charron, Michael Charron, Anna Ocanas, Allison Crosswhite and Amanda Wake; 13 great-grandchildren, Heather Reidy, Chris Reidy, Melissa Howard, Chance Clark, Cody Clark, Nikki Beth Clark, Brittany McNees, Ashley Anderson, Samantha Leedahl, Mikayla Leedahl, J.J. Leedahl, Madison Ocanas, Ayremas Ocanas; and four great-great-grandchildren, Annette Faye Vazquez, Nathaniel Vazquez, Mason McNees and Daniel McNees. A special Mass will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Kingman. A second service will be held in Redondo Beach, Calif., on Jan. 15, 2011. Both services are intended to celebrate and pay tribute to the life of a woman even J.K. Rowling could not create. Memorial donations are asked to be sent to the St. Michaels Catholic Church, 711 E. Andy Devine Ave., Kingman, AZ 86401-5914, in the memory of Alice and her model generosity and selflessness.