By Al Camp
Chronicle staff

     Alice “Trodden” Lafond will be up at the crack of dawn with her husband, Jim, to welcome rough stock herded into the arena for the 2007 Fourth of July Chesaw Rodeo.
     The Lafonds will be grand marshals at this year’s parade through town at 12:30 p.m. The 65th annual rodeo follows at 1 p.m.
     Alice Lafond, who has attended rodeos for almost 50 years, told her daughter, Jeanne M. Carroll, “I loved them all. I never leave until after the very last event. I particularly like watching the horses.”
     Lafond’s mother, Carrie Atchison Trodden, also attended the rodeo that came as an early birthday present.
     She was born in a yellow cabin across the street from the rodeo arena July 5. She died just weeks before her 80th birthday.
     Alice Lafond turned 80 Feb. 8. Lafond, who was born in Molson, said she has come from Bellingham and beyond. The Lafonds will be coming from Neptune Beach near Ferndale for this year’s rodeo.
     “I don’t think mom (Alice) ever expected to see 80,” said Carroll. “And of course, being a July 5th birthday, the entire clan was always there to celebrate since we were all over for the rodeo.”
     Carrie “Atchison” Trodden lost her first child, a girl. On her second pregnancy she moved from Chesaw to her midwife’s home in Molson until Alice was safely delivered, reports AnnMarie Close in a news release.
     Carroll said a fond memory for family members was being at the cabin of her grandparents (Jack and Carrie Atchison Trodden). The cabin is across from the rodeo grounds and the family would get up early to watch horses being brought off nearby hills.
     The horses would thunder past the cabin and into the rodeo arena.
     “We all know that Mom will get up as early as needed and watch for them,” said Carroll. “Our whole clan will be outside, many still in their PJs, to watch the horses being herded over to the rodeo.”
     Alice’s father, John (Jack) Patrick Trodden, was the son of Patrick John Trodden, Chesaw’s first rural route mail carrier. Jack Trodden replaced his father and become the rural route carrier himself, reported Close.
     “Due to party changes in the White House, Jack lost his job as a postal carrier,” said Close in a news release. “He made ends meet with odd jobs until his father’s illness pressed them to move to Bellingham in late 1933.
     “Alice was in first grade at the Chesaw school when the family was forced to leave their beloved Chesaw,” said Close.
     After graduating from Bellingham High School, Alice met and married Jim Lafond Nov. 25, 1948.
     Jim, Alice’s husband of nearly 59 years, retired as the Napavine school superintendent.
     He sent a message, said Close, to family and friends after Alice was named grand marshal: “We think this is one of the nicest honors Alice could have and I believe she surely deserves it. No one on this side of the Cascades thinks and talks of the rodeo more than she and no one anticipates the dance, the trip over, the friends and family, even the weather conditions like Al.
     “All of you who have been to Chesaw with her know July 3rd, 4th and 5th are some of the most important and special days of her year,” said Jim Lafond.
     Jim and Alice have missed hardly a rodeo since 1958 - that’s 49 years, reports Close.
     The couple has four daughters - Jeanne and Bill Carroll, Mary Lafond and Jim Sutter, Patty Lafond and John Cleary, Kathryn Lafond and George Brooks, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
     All of the kids intend to win all the kids’ games this year.
     Alice is well known for her involvement in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives and being the first to volunteer to help a neighbor or friend in need, reports Close.
     She and Jim have chaperoned innumerable school events, attended band concerts, drama productions, clubs, sports, booster club and eight years of varsity cheerleading. She is also deeply committed to church activities.
     Alice says she doesn’t have a favorite Fourth of July memory.
     “I loved them all,” she says. “I never leave until after the very last event, rain or shine. I particularly like watching the horses.”
     “Mom is unique, vivacious and fun loving,” says Carroll. “Her favorite toast is, ‘to more of the same!’”