West Lebanon - Mary Alice (Shields) Heeter Purdy, 92, West Lebanon, passed away quietly in her home, with her family by her side, on Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 12:25 p.m.
Mary Alice, as she was known to family and friends, was born at home in Lafayette, Indiana on May 3, 1934.  She was the daughter of the late William and Mary (Artman) Shields Sr.  Mary Alice was raised in Lafayette and graduated from St. Francis Catholic School in Lafayette in 1953.  Mary Alice was first married to Tommy Heeter in Williamsport, Indiana on June 20, 1953.  Tommy preceded her in death on August 23, 1983.  In 1953 Mary Alice moved to Winthrop, Indiana following her marriage to Tommy. Following Tommy's passing, Mary Alice later married John "Jack" Purdy.  He later preceded Mary Alice in death. Following the death of her second husband, Mary Alice was encouraged to move closer to family, so she moved to West Lebanon in 1983.
Mary Alice worked as a nurses aide for the Woodland Manor Nursing Center, Attica; Soldiers Home in West Lafayette and St. Anthony Healthcare in Lafayette.  She decided to retire, but that didn't suit her, so she went to work as a clerk for K-Mart and later Wal-Mart, both in Lafayette, until she finally decided to retire in 2006.
Mary Alice formerly attended the Attica Christian Church and later the Buffalo Christian Church.  She was an avid square dancer and was a member of the Four Season Square Dance Club in Lafayette.  She owned her own ceramic shop in her basement, while living in Winthrop.  She enjoyed crocheting and she crocheted blankets for all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mary Alice leaves behind four children, Deborah Sue (Donald) Solomon, Attica; Diana Lynn (Larry) Sible, Lake Holiday; Donna Jean (Steven) Howard, West Lebanon; David Heeter, Attica; 12 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and 4 great great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Norma Jean Amstutz; infants Romona Shields and Barbara Shields; a brother, William "Billy" Shields Jr.
As per Mary Alice's request, cremation services were accorded her and a memorial gravesite service will be held on Friday, July 31st at 1:00 p.m. in the Riverside Cemetery, Attica  with Virginia Scherer speaking.  Following the gravesite service, family and friends are welcome to the Attica Moose Lodge for a meal.