Alice S. Mains

Gorham-Alice S. Mains, 89 passed away at the Gorham House on Thursday June 13, 2024, with her family by her side after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on December 18, 1934 in a blizzard at Westbrook hospital. The daughter of Wilbur and Doris (Tapley) Smith. She graduated from Gorham High School in 1953.She lived in Gorham, all her life.
One week after graduating high school, she married Kenneth P. Mains, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean War. She was the president of the Smith Wagner American Legion Auxiliary for many years. She belonged for 40 years before the post closed.
Alice was a stay at home mom until her youngest started school. She went to work as a meat wrapper and worked for Polarzone Foods, Inc. for 25 years and later part time at the Windham Butcher Shop for Dana Mains for 15 years. Alice, also enjoyed taking care of children in her home while their parents worked. Her first child was Nathan McPhee and he started calling her Grammie Alice and after that, all the children called her Grammie Alice. She enjoyed baking pies, breads and is well known by her family, neighbors and friends for her whoopie pies. Alice enjoyed working in her vegetable and beautiful flower gardens, feeding and watching her birds and wild ducks. She could walk up to the ducks. She enjoyed attending her grandsons sporting events and spending time with her great grandson EJ. She enjoyed having EJ stay with her and playing ball with him.
At the age of 64, her daughter Laurie showed her how to make crazy quilts that her mom had shown Laurie how to do. She made her first one for her oldest grandson and made many more for family and friends.
Following retirement, she and Kenneth enjoyed traveling to 45 of the 50 states. Some of the highlights of these trips were driving to Branson Missouri, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Florida, Cody Wyoming, and New Orleans. They also went on a cruise to Alaska. Besides traveling Alice also enjoyed watching the Red Sox (she was an avid fan), camping and snowmobiling.
Besides her parents, Alice was predeceased by her husband Kenneth who died in 2018 after 64 years of marriage.
She is survived by her children, Keith Mains and his wife Susan of Gorham, Laurie Mains of Gorham, and Greg Mains, and his wife Lee Ann of Gorham, her three grandsons Eric, Timothy, and Aaron Mains, one great grandson Eric Mains Jr., her two brothers Irving Smith and his wife Marilyn of Owls Head and Wayne Smith and his wife Vicki of Buxton and her two grand fur babies Tarzan & Jane.
Alice's family would like to thank the staff of the Gorham House for all the wonderful care that they provided to her and her family.
Family and friends are invited to attend a graveside committal service on Saturday July 13, 2024 @ 11am at the South Gorham Cemetery, Burnham Road, Gorham