ALICE MAE INGRAM

ALICE MAE INGRAM

1909-2009

August 1, this year, Alice Mae celebrated her 100th birthday and she passed on December 3, 2009 with family and friends at her bedside. Her life has been filled with love from everyone who has had the privilege of knowing her. Her kindness has reached far beyond anything most of us have experienced. She was an example to us all.

Alice Mae was born August 1, 1909 in Lakeside, Washington to C.E. and Maude Russell. She lived many joyous years with her parents, brother, John and sisters, Betty and Fran. She attended Washington State College, where she met her future husband, Frank, and graduated in 1931. Five years she taught high school business classes prior to marrying Frank at her parent's home at Lake Chelan, WA. June 7, 1936.

Opportunity came and they purchased a small grocery store at Hunt's Point near Seattle. In 1939 they started Ingram's Drive In, a restaurant which featured car hops. Alice Mae and Frank did all the food preparation and it was a highlight of their lives together.

Chico was their home since 1957 after previously living in Everett, Washington for ten years, where they were in partnership with Jack and Fran Bowen in Bowen-Ingram Hardware and Lumber. The Bowen family moved to Chico and Frank continued with the hardware store until 1957. While in Chico their business was Ingram Realty, which they owned until retirement in 1977. Frank passed away January 2, 2005. Alice Mae moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to be near her daughter, Patti and family in June 2006.

Her activities in Chico were many. First and foremost was hospitality and generosity to others. It seemed that their home was always filled with friends and family visiting from Washington or other places in the country. She and Frank were blessed with countless friends and there were always new ones on the horizon. She enjoyed walking, bridge club, gardening, dance club, travel, golf and spending time with her loved ones. Alice Mae was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority in college and was active in starting the chapter at Chico State. She also enjoyed and participated regularly in the DS Chapter P.E.O.

Preceding her in death are her husband, Frank; brother, John Russell; very recently sister, Betty Wall and son, Gene Ingram. She is survived by her beloved sister, Fran Bowen, Chico; daughter, Patti Barton (Keith), Salt Lake City; granddaughter, Kristen Barton, Fairbanks, AK; granddaughter, Kimberly Iceman (Chris), Fairbanks, AK; and granddaughter, Cari Call (Chris), Santa Rosa, CA. Alice Mae has five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Patti and family wish to thank, from the bottom of their hearts, the Alta Ridge Community for their loving care, concern and compassion during Alice Mae's 3 years of residence there. Their outlook on elder care far surpassed any expectations and she was treated with honor and dignity, and most of all surrounded by love from the entire staff. She was part of their family. Guy Mendenhall, you are truly an angel from heaven.

Millcreek Hospice deserves high praise for their love and excellent care of Alice Mae. They were tender, gentle and most kind and considerate during her last days. Thank you to Lisa, Sandra and John. You made such a difficult time easier to understand and provided her family much peace.

A celebration of her wonderful life, love and what she has meant to each and every one of us will be celebrated in Chico at a later date. For all of us who have loved and cared about this incredible woman, she is now dancing with Frank, hugging her brother, John and sister, Betty, rejoicing with her parents and laughing with Uncle Jack, Uncle George and her many, many friends who preceded her in death. She is now at rest.

If one so desires, memorial contributions can be made in Alice Mae's name at the Alzheimer's Association, 845 East 4800 South, Suite 120, Salt Lake City, UT 84107.

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