Alice Hathaway McInnis

The herald angels are singing an extra chorus today. Alice Hathaway McInnis has come to join the choir. Mom passed away with family by her side March 2, 2025 in Mills River, NC where she made her home with her daughter Susanne, after complications from a fall.

Mom was born in Milton Plantation on Memorial Day, May 30, 1927, the 4th of eight children of Lester and Ismay Jackson Hathaway. She graduated from Woodstock High School class of 1947 as valedictorian. In her valedictory speech she criticized the teaching staff for not doing enough to encourage the students to consider what career they might like to pursue. Apparently, the teaching staff was not happy with her approach.

Raised on the family farm in Bryant Pond, Mom’s work ethic is something her children are proud to inherit. As a teenager she worked summers, for her sister and brother-in-law at Judkins Store in Upton or at a Sealtest Ice Cream facility in MA. After graduation she attended Mt Ida College in Newton, MA to pursue an airline stewardess career. But the smalltown farmer’s daughter did not adjust well to the more urban atmosphere and returned home after a short time. After returning home she enrolled in nursing school at St Mary’s nursing program in Lewiston. She put her nursing career on hold when she married Kenneth McInnis Jr. October 17, 1948, and started a family.

Having been raised in a 100-year-old farmhouse, not long after getting married they moved into another 100-year-old farmhouse to raise their family. Life was not always easy for Mom but she gave us some of the greatest memories! She raised four kids, ran a chicken farm, and maintained vegetable and flower gardens. And she had family and friends!

Mom was a busy lady and always willing to get involved. While raising four kids, operating the chicken farm, and maintaining her home and gardens, she was a proud member of the Jefferson Chapter #89 of the Order of Eastern Star, being chosen Worthy Matron multiple times. She belonged to the local Birthday Club along with many other local moms, and later was a member of the West Bethel Union Church, enjoying to her daughter Gail singing in the choir. Being a fabulous cook she was always contributing to church, Grange, or Eastern Star suppers. Her famous apple pie dish always came home empty.

In 1966 mom had a farm accident which nearly took her life and ended her chicken raising career, but not her community involvement. After she recovered from the farm accident, she worked in family-owned grocery stores for a few years while maintaining her gardens. With the kids making their own way in life she then took a job working at Ledgeview Nursing Home when she decided to return to nursing school.

She graduated with an RN degree from the Central Maine General Hospital School of Nursing in 1976 at age 49. She was presented with the Alumni Award, presented to the classmate fellow classmates would most want to be the nurse taking care of their family. Upon graduation she had her heart set on being an OB nurse and joined the OB staff of Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway. She was the first in her class to get a job. She loved caring for the new moms and their new babies. Several generations of Oxford County remember Nurse Alice.

After retirement Mom earned her Master Gardener’s certification and volunteered with the local county agricultural association. She was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and loved nothing better than taking her radio down to the garden while listening to the Red Sox. She outlived the curse of the Bambino and saw the Red Sox win their first World Series since 1918 in 2004, and three more after that. When visiting son Mark in FL he would take her to a Red Sox Spring Training game or two. She was honored along with her husband in 2006 with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce for 50 years of service to the Maine Conservation School.

After living in 100-year-old farmhouses for over 80 years, she and her husband moved to NC in 2012 to live in what she called her most favorite home. After her husband passed in 2013 Mom spent many happy years landscaping her 1+ acre property. She enjoyed driving her riding lawnmower which her son Mark taught her how to maneuver, planting flowers all around the property, maintaining her vegetable garden, and maintaining her ranch home. Mom became a member of the Mills River Presbyterian Church and could always be seen circulating through the congregation greeting new friends and sharing stories.

Mom was a giver, never understanding why when someone complimented her or wanted to do something exceptional for her, why they would do that. Especially her kids. We always told her we were just giving back for all the things she did for us. Naturally she dismissed her contribution to our work ethic and success. She made friends easily where ever she went.

A special thank you to her niece and “best friend”, Judy Seames, who provided encouragement almost every day, and granddaughter Michele who always had a smile and entertained her with stories and pictures of her travels and her family. Her special friends Irene Redman and Arlene Lowell always kept her informed of happenings in Bryant Pond and Bethel and shared memories and concerns almost weekly that only 90-year-old mothers can appreciate. But special gratitude goes to her daughter Susanne and her husband Scott who provided her with a safe, healthy and loving environment the last couple years of her life. Mom said Susanne saved her life after several health issues resulted in her moving in with Susanne and Scott. And for that sacrifice the rest of the family loves them both even more.

A special thanks also to the professionals at Four Seasons Hospice in Hendersonville, NC, particularly Julia and Michael. Their compassion for Mom as well as concern for Susanne’s welfare as the caregiver were a Godsend and of great comfort to Susanne as she cared for Mom.

Family was everything to Mom and the love she got in return was precious. She was proud of her Hathaway heritage, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and always kept up on all their activities. Mom was predeceased by her parents, her husband, brothers Terrence Raymond (TR), Ellsworth (Willie), John, and Alton (Gibby), and sisters Beatrice (Bea) Judkins, Lois Day, and Ann Bickford.

She is survived by her children Stuart (Debbie), Gail Buker (Bob), Susanne Sanders (Scott), and Mark (Kim); grandchildren Melissa Pacheco, Andrew McInnis, Tony Buker, Angie Rosenberg, Gregg Burris, Michele Becher, Torie Harper, and Megan Stumbo; 17 great grandchildren Kylie, Lucy, MaKenzie, Sydney, Landon, Reese, Brynn, Jaxson, Oliver, Kaleb, Tristin, Rylee, Ethan, Keegan, Demetri, Thaddeus and Alistair; sisters-in-law, Althea Hathaway and Joyce Hathaway; and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at the West Bethel Union Church in West Bethel, Maine at a date to be announced, with interment at Lakeside Cemetery in Bryant Pond, Maine. Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.