On March 29, 2019, Lillian left us quietly. She was 100 years old.

Lillian was born in Massachusetts in 1919, to Victor and Emelia DeLaura. Lillian was Emelia’s tenth child. Shortly after her birth Emelia became ill and was hospitalized. So, Lillian was raised in orphanages until age 10.

When Lillian returned home, her older sisters raised her. During this time she became a Seventh Day Adventist. She was a member of that church for the rest of her life. She left home early, worked for two families, and finished high school.

In 1938 Lillian met Steve Grice and fell in love. They were married in 1939. They worked hard and raised four children. During this time, Steve also built their first home on weekends and evenings while he worked full time.

In 1952, the family moved to California, where their fifth child, Linda, was born. Lillian also worked as a teacher’s assistant.

In 1978 they moved to Bainbridge Island to be near their children. Then, in 1983, Steve died of a heart attack at the age of 64.

In 1986 Lillian married Ray Bean, a retired farmer, and moved to Idaho. After 30 years Ray died at the age of 105. Lillian then moved back to California to be near her youngest daughter, Linda.

She is survived by her four children: Steve, Art, Tom, and Linda, 5 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. We thank you, Lillian, and we miss you dearly.