Alpha Mae Soares

Mae was born in Ada, OK to Charles and Ethel Wade. She was the oldest of seven children. Mae moved with her family to the CA Central Valley in the early 1940s. The family eventually moved to Hughson where Mae met and married Ralph Soares. She worked along side her husband on the family dairy. She was often seen carrying milk cans, cleaning the milk house, or driving the tractor. They later farmed almonds. Mae started her own upholstery business in the early 1970s. This endeavor allowed her to put to use her strong talents as a seamstress. Her clients were always amazed at the quality of her work, whether the task was reupholstering an antique chair or restoring the interior of a car, truck, boat, RV or the seat of a tractor. She and Ralph passed their strong work ethic on to their six children.

Mae is survived by her children, Ralph Michael Soares of Hughson, Frank (Sharon) Soares of Ceres, Mark (Rene) Soares of Hughson, Ken Soares of Hughson, Carol (Rod) Shepard of Shiocton, WI and son-in-law James Edwards of Bakersfield, 15 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, her sister Betty (Leroy) Ruhl, brother Don (Millie) Wade of OK, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, daughter Patricia "Patsy" Edwards, her parents Ethel and Charles Wade, sisters Ruby and Joann, brothers Chuck and Bill, and grandson Preston Soares.

Mae's family would like to thank the staff at Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson for their kindness toward their mother and her family.