Mary Alice Cummings Gehrke, age 90, of La Porte, Indiana, passed away at 2:20 p.m., on Monday, August 22, 2011, at Miller's Merry Manor, in Plymouth, Indiana. Mrs. Gehrke was born July 5, 1921, in Westville, Indiana, to George Claude and Mary Winifred (Carson) Cummings. She graduated from Kingsbury High School in the Class of 1939. Mrs. Gehrke retired after working 32 years as a long distance operator with General Telephone Company of Indiana. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of La Porte and Faith Circle of the church. She was a Life Member of Kappa Alumni Chapter of Sigma Phi Gamma International Sorority, La Porte Business Girls Association, Auxiliary to American Legion Post #83 in La Porte, Ladies Auxiliary to the V.F.W. Post #1130 in La Porte, Ladies Auxiliary to Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #2439 in La Porte, Women of the Moose #935 in Michigan City, Indiana, Narfe Association Chapter #0565, A.A.R.P., National Association of Letter Carriers, and was also an Associate Member of the Indiana Farm Bureau. Mrs. Gehrke always enjoyed cooking and hosted many family and holiday dinners. She married James T. Gehrke in 1971 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He passed away on April 11, 1980. Survivors include her son, Donald Wesley (Judy) Harness of Plymouth; her granddaughter, Jennifer Harness of Plymouth; her brother, George Robert Cummings of La Porte; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Wesley Harness; and her brother, Dr. Thomas Edward Cummings, D.D.S., of Chicago, Illinois. Memorials may be given to: First Baptist Church of La Porte 802 Indiana Avenue, La Porte, Indiana 46350 or Kingsbury Baptist Church Post Office Box 47, Kingsbury, Indiana 46345 ~VISITATION~ SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2011, 9:30-10:30 A.M. (C.S.T) KINGSBURY BAPTIST CHURCH 403 NORTH MAIN STREET KINGSBURY, INDIANA 46354 ~FUNERAL~ SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2011, 10:30 A.M. (C.S.T.) KINGSBURY BAPTIST CHURCH PASTOR TIM WILLIAMS, OFFICIATING ~BURIAL~ PINE LAKE CEMETERY, LA PORTE ~MEMORIES MAY BE SHARED AT~ www.vangilderfuneralhome.com VAN GILDER FUNERAL HOME 300 WEST MADISON STREET PLYMOUTH, INDIANA 46563