Alice Elizabeth Quirk passed away peacefully on June 13, 2016 at Treemont Healthcare and Rehabilitation facility with family in attendance. She was 92 years old. Devoted parents of four daughters, Alice and husband Stephen discovered in 1951 that their second daughter, Melanie, was diagnosed as mentally retarded. They soon became members of the Detroit Association for Retarded Children. In 1953 they first started discussing the need for such an organization in the Wyandotte, Michigan community. Then in 1954 they decided to call the new group the Downriver Association for Mentally Retarded Children. This was later shortened to the Association for Retarded Citizens/Downriver (www.downriverarc.org) as it is known today. Together they changed the trajectory of progress for retarded citizens in that state. They moved to Dallas, Texas in 1957 and remained engaged in civic work for many years. Alice was active in St. Monica Catholic Church, Meals on Wheels, a docent at The Dallas Arboretum, and a founding member of the Irish American Society, Dallas Chapter. Alice was also the manager of the Stephen Quirk Dance Studio from 1950 to 1985, in Wyandotte, Michigan and Dallas, Texas. She cast a wide net over her interests during her lifetime. Alice was very generous and loving to all who knew her. She played a significant part in her family's lives. She loved cooking for her family, babysitting her granddaughters, attending family reunions, any beach, traveling, reading, crocheting, playing cards, with family and friends, especially cribbage and bridge, and staging really big parties! Her parties were the very best and that's why all of her daughters and granddaughters know how to plan and give a great party at the drop of a hat. The beloved matriarch of fourteen strong women, Alice is survived by her three daughters and their families: Stephanie and husband David Meinhardt, of Dallas, Texas, Deborah Quirk and husband, Dr. Charles Peters, of Towson, Maryland, and Melissa Quirk, of Dallas. Texas. Granddaughters, Vickie Meinhardt and wife Kasi Kennedy, Gretchen Meinhardt, and Jessica Salazar and husband, Terry all from Austin, Texas, Catie Garcia of Beaumont, Texas and Bridgette Newton and husband, Tyler of Beaumont, Texas. Former sons' in law, Bill Simmons of Austin, Texas and Lee Twill of Medford, Oregon. Her great granddaughters Rosemary Simmons, and husband Chesley Allen, of Austin, Texas, Grace Erington and husband, David of Dallas, Texas, Stephanie Simmons, Celina Salazar, and Jaya Twill all of Austin, Texas. One niece and her family from Wyandotte, Michigan, and several nephews and their families from all over the US. She was preceded in death by her husband Stephen Ryan Quirk, her mother, Magdelina Regina Sloan, her father Francis Sloan, sister Ruth York, husband Tom, brother Robert Sloan, and daughter Melanie Quirk. The family wishes to thank all of the staff at Treemont Healthcare Care and Rehabilitation facility for the years of excellent and loving care they gave her and Hospice Compassus. We also wish to thank the many friends Alice had who came to visit, play cards, read to her and to pray with her/ Memorial service will be held on Saturday July 9, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the North Cities United Pentecostal Church, 502 Beltline Road in Garland, Texas 75040. In lieu of flowers the Quirk family requests donations be made in honor of Alice Quirk to: The Association for Retarded Citizens/Downriver (ARC Downriver, 1028 Oak Street, Wyandotte, MI 48192.) Arrangements are under the direction of ARIA Cremation Service and Funeral Home 19310 Preston Road Dallas, Texas 75252 214-306-6700