Mary Alice Black, 91, of Oakland City, died Friday, Nov. 19, 2004, at her home. 

Mrs. Black was born in Oakland City, April 3, 1913, grew up and attended school in Princeton, Ind., and attended high school in Rockford, Ill.

She was married to Lawrence A. Black of Oakland City on Aug. 31, 1932, in Paris, Ill. Together they owned and managed Black's Department Store in Oakland City until 1958, when Mr. Black started farming full-time. For many years, Mary Alice was an active member of the First General Baptist Church of Oakland City. She was formerly a Sunday school teacher, children's choir leader and member of the Searchlight Class, the Chancel Choir and the Ella C. Wheatley Women's Missionary Society of her church. She was also a member of the Busy Oaks Home-Ec Club. She was an excellent cook and loved to sew, sing, work crossword puzzles and entertain her grandchildren. 

Mrs. Black was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Emma Penner and her two brothers, H. Paul and Jack W. Penner. 

She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Lawrence A. Black, and their daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Jerry Phillips of Oakland City; two granddaughters and their husbands, Robin and Roger Sermersheim of Oakland City and Barbara and Scott Watson of Evansville; and six great-grandchildren, Ryan, Regan and Randa Sermersheim, and Nathan, Abigail and Isaac Watson. 

Deep appreciation is expressed by the family for special caregivers, Dottie Anderson, Brenda Koelling, Charlotte Riddle, Betty Benjamin, Sue Horrell, Ruth Nimal and Bobbie Kell, and from the care provided by the Visiting Nurse Hospice. 

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. CST Wednesday, Nov. 24, at the First General Baptist Church in Oakland City, with burial in Montgomery Cemetery. Dr. Rodney Walls will officiate.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, at Corn-Colvin Funeral Home and from 8 am. to service time Wednesday at the church.