Obituary

Alice C. Alley, obituary

Tue, 07/01/2014 - 11:00am

CAMDEN — Alice Clancy Alley, 96, died June 26, 2013, at her home with her daughter after a brief illness. She was the widow of Leroy "Peanut" Alley, who died in 1983.

Born June 8, 1918, she was the daughter of Edward and Alvira (Payson) Clancy. During the 1800s, Alice's grandfather and father came to the United States from Ireland. When Alice was 6-months-old and following the death of her father and a brother, who died in the 1918 flu epidemic, her mother moved to Rockland with her children. On the Payson side of the family, Alice traced her ancestors back to Love Brewster and the Rev. William Brewster, who came over on the Mayflower. Alice was always very proud of her family heritage.

Alice was a graduate of Rockland High School, Class of 1937. A member of the First Baptist Church in Rockland, she also attended the First Congregational Church in Camden for many years.

On Dec. 30, 1939, she married Leroy Alley of Camden and their daughter, Elaine, was born in 1943.

For a number of years, Alice worked for the Richard Sexton family and later worked for 25 years in the burling room of the Knox Woolen Mill, teaching many of the new workers the art of burling.

Mr. and Mrs. Alley loved to dance, attend public suppers, go camping, fishing, socializing at the Public Landing during summer evenings, and always living every minute to the fullest.

Alice had many hobbies including knitting, sewing, tole painting, drawing and going to the Camden Health Care Center until her 90s and work on the annual Green Sale there selling Christmas wreathes and arrangements.

In her later years, Alice enjoyed spending time with her wonderful friend, Bernard Rackliff of Spruce Head, and with the love of her life, her great-grandson, Cooper.

Alice has been living independently in her home with the help of her family and the services of Meals On Wheels. The family would like to express their gratitude to the caregivers of Kno-Wal-Lin Hospice for their care and compassion during the past several weeks.

Surviving is her daughter, Elaine Alley Davis; her granddaughter, Jennifer Davis Rubenstein and her husband, Peter, all of Camden; two great-granddaughters, Nicole Rubenstein Todd and her husband, Orrin; Brittany Rubenstein of West Hartford, Conn.; her great great-grandson, Cooper Rubenstein; cousins; loving nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Leroy Alley; her son-in-law, John Davis; her brother, Charles Clancy; and her sister, Grace Clancy Smith.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 2 at 1 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m., at Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St. in Camden with the Rev. Kevin Pleas officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery in Camden.

If desired, memorial gifts may be made to MCH Meals On Wheels, 46 Summer St., Rockland, ME 04841.