Alice E. Montgomery

Oberlin Con., Oberlin, O.
Special Life Certificate
K.S.T.C., Pittsburg

 1927 - 1928

Obituary:

Alice Elizabeth Montgomery Petitt, 93, Topeka, former longtime Paola resident, died Saturday,

Oct. 5, 1996, at Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center in Topeka.

She was born April 4, 1903, at Oswego, Kan., the daughter of Robert Henry and Eva Barnes Montgomery. After graduating from Oswego High School, she attended Oberlin Conservatory and Pittsburg Teachers College. She taught music in the Spring Hill and Osawatomie public schools.

She was married to P. A. Petitt, a Paola physician, in June 1938 in Oswego. They made their home in Paola. He preceded her in death.

Mrs. Petitt became a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Paola in 1928. She served in various capacities, including Sunday school teacher, music director and elder. In 1930, she and the late Maude Carver initiated the Christmas vespers service, which became an annual tradition and continues to this day.

She also served on the Presbyterian General Council, a national body that oversees the day-to-day business of the denomination. She was a member of the P,E.O. Sisterhood, the Pleasant Hour Club and the former May Day Club, all of Paola. She was a member of and served as president of both the Second District Federation of Women's Clubs and the Kansas Federation of Women's Clubs.

She was national director of music for the General Federation of Women's Clubs. She belonged to the Paola Business and Professional Women. She served on the Paola USD 368 board of education. She was a recipient of the Wilma Wilson Sharp Award and the Matrix Table Award.

Her parents and a son, Phil A. Petitt, also preceded her in death.

Survivors include a son, Robert Montgomery Petitt of Rochester, Minn.; a sister, Frances Duke of Wichita; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A daughter-in-law, Ann Petitt Webber of Darien, Conn., also survives.

Memorial services were at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Kirk Johnston officiating. Burial was in the Paola Cemetery under the direction of the Wilson and Son Chapel of Paola.

Memorials have been established in her name to the church, Paola USD 368 Endowment Fund and Cottey College Academic Center Fund in Nevada, Mo.

 

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