Alice May Goodridge, 96HAMPTON, N.H. - Alice May Goodridge died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, Dec. 22, 2014.Alice May was born in Marshall, Ill., to Forrest Eugene and Nina May Smith. After attending Central Illinois College, she taught in a one room schoolhouse for seven years.During the war, Alice May moved to Washington, D.C., with her brother Gene, and worked for several years as a civilian employee for the Navy Department. It was in D.C. where she met her husband, Charles H. Goodridge Jr. They met on May 10, three days before their mutual birthday of May 13. Dad often teased that he wasn't sure he liked her much that first meeting, but felt obliged to ask her out for a birthday dinner. They were married 100 days later. They moved to Maine to raise their family, living in Scarborough, Cumberland and Yarmouth. Alice May was active in St. Mary's Church in Falmouth, volunteering, fundraising, and baking for church suppers. Her son Jonathan cherishes memories of Mom taking us to all of the historical sites and amusement parks in New England, and visiting all of the museums in Washington, D.C., along with exploring Jamestown and Yorktown. She was also a den mother for Jon's and Peter's Cub Scout troop, spent countless hours at Sunday River Ski Lodge while Ann and Peter skied, and waited on shore for Charlie and the kids to return from sailing - according to Dad she could get seasick in a bathtub. Alice May was a fabulous baker, but according to her children, not such a good cook when it came to dinner. After her children left home, and Charlie's waistline was increasing, she continued to bake, but donated her cakes, cookies, and pies to local food pantries. As a young woman, Alice May suffered a severe hearing loss. Thirty years later an operation significantly improved her hearing. As she had lost her hearing before her family had electricity, when her hearing was restored she jumped every time the refrigerator hummed, or a stair creaked. Nor was she used to hearing the loud shouting matches that Ann and Peter frequently enjoyed. When asked to quiet down, her loving children would respond by telling her to turn off her hearing aid, which she could no longer do. Because of her hearing problems, Alice May seldom listened to music, but she loved Christmas carols. Every December she would play Christmas music loudly, very, very loudly. Alice May loved to talk to everyone she met. Friends and caretakers have all told us how much they loved hearing her stories. Education was important in her family. Her father and all of his 27 cousins, as well as her brothers Smithy and Gene and sister Helen Jane, were teachers at one time or another. This value was passed down. Her granddaughters Liz and Amy are teachers, and youngest granddaughter Caitlin is just completing her teaching degree. Although Alice May and Charlie married late, they were fortunate to have 51 years together. Charlie passed away in 2002. Their daughter Amy Jane died in 1963. Alice May is survived by her son, Jonathan Goodridge and his wife Nu of Glen Allen, Va., her daughter, Ann Goodridge and her husband Barry Bernard of Portland, and her son Peter Goodridge and his wife Tracy of Stratham, N.H. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, with two more great-grandchildren expected next year.Her family wishes to express their gratitude to staff of Langdon Place, Partridge House, and Oceanside for their care and friendship for their mother and father since 1999. Their parents also found comfort from the congregation of the First Congregational Church of Hampton. There will be a private family service in January.Alice May's beloved great-niece Jane Ann lives a residential care facility, Park Lawn in Oak Lawn, Ill. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at www.parklawn.com.
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