Alice S. Davis

After 100 years on this earth, Alice Martha Smith Woodson Davis passed on to higher ground. She died peacefully at home of natural causes on July 5, 2023, holding her daughter Sarah’s hand. It is with love and admiration that her family and friends say farewell.

Alice was born in 1923 at home in Orange, CT to parents Allison and Caroline Clements Smith. Growing up in what was a very rural area at the time, with her older siblings Jack, Betty (Odell) and Carolyn (Carlstrom), she credited her memorable childhood to being surrounded by a happy loving family. In 1941, Alice graduated from Hillhouse HS in New Haven, CT and shortly thereafter began a long career working for the Southern New England Telephone Co. In 1947 she married Horace J Woodson. They spent most of their years in Wallingford, CT where they raised their three children, Beth, James and Sarah. But in 1978, her husband ‘Woody’ died unexpectedly after retiring from his long career with the New York, New Haven and Hartford RR. Eleven years later Alice married George Davis of Enfield, CT. They eventually moved to Boynton Beach, FL. After George’s death, she married Raymond Haren and lived in Boynton Beach until his death in 2012. A year later at the age of 90, Alice moved to New Mexico to live with her daughter, Sarah.

Friendly and outgoing, Alice was always an active member of her community. In CT she served as a Welcome Wagon host, a member of the League of Women Voters and after retiring, she volunteered for a sexual assault crisis hotline. In FL she worked at polling stations and in NM she joined the Meadowlark Senior Center where she made numerous card playing friends. Alice was a long-standing fan of the UCONN Women’s Basketball team.

Despite being in her 90s, Alice’s spirits soared once she moved to New Mexico. She added pink streaks to her white hair, bought her first pair of skinny jeans and sparkly shoes, and at the age of 95 she borrowed some leather chaps and got a ride on a Harley motorcycle. For her 96^th birthday she made reservations to ride a zipline but when she got there it was closed for repairs.

Alice was very proud of having recently reached her 100^th birthday and enjoyed a wonderful party with 70+ people. She received over 120 cards, including ones from the mayor, the governor, and President Biden, and was later interviewed by the Albuquerque Journal. Alice credited her longevity to an “attitude of gratitude.” She lived by the Golden Rule and raised her children to do the same. She will live on in the memories of our hearts.

Alice is survived by her daughter Sarah Durachta of Albuquerque, NM, her daughter Beth Woodson and husband James Horan of Dixmont, ME, her granddaughter Brianna Horan and great-granddaughter Alexis Moran, both of Fairfield, ME. She will be remembered by many nieces and nephews in seven states.

 In lieu of flowers and cards, please hug someone that you love.