Dorothy Alice Chandler

Alice was one of nine children, and the last surviving member born to Connie Clara Williams and George Ernerst Chandler. Her siblings in order of age were Jack, George, Bill, Howard, Stan, (Alice), Beverly, Monte, and Carol Chandler.

The Chandler Family moved to California moved from Tennessee to California where they became worked as caretakers on the 93,000 acre Irvine Ranch property. Alice would later become a skilled horse trainer, horse breeder, horse riding instructor, she also bred German Shepherd puppies that were direct descendants to Rin Tin Tin that were later used in Hollywood. Alice was also a proficient pilot and flight instructor and owned two airplane. She was a true daredevil. Alice later became a caretaker and helped those that could not help themselves.

Her role that made her most famous is when she lived on the ranch, she was asked by Sheriff James Musick to come in for an interview. She sat with him for about an hour and he explained her responsibilities. He gave her a badge and an ID card and she became Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s first female Deputy August 1, 1949.

Alice’s mother went with her to buy a gun, and the local cowboys taught her how to shoot. She took her job as a Deputy very serious and patrolled on horseback though the hills around Peters Canyon and what is now Orange Park Acres and beyond. She loved her time wearing the gun and badge and always had a very special place in her heart for law enforcement officers until the day she passed.

Alice never married, and never had children of her own. She was the last surviving member of her family. She became very close to a group of female officers, dispatchers, and others that were drawn to her outgoing sense of humor and positive outlook on life. The all loved her as a member of their own family and she is missed terribly. Fly high Alice.