Alice Margaret Hoffman Maher

Alice was born on December 30, 1925 and was raised on her family farm in Willey, Iowa. She was the second oldest of ten children born to Rudolph J. and Josephine M. (Gute) Hoffman. She graduated from St. Angela Academy in Carroll, Iowa in 1943 and then proceeded on to attain her three year diploma Registered Nurse (RN) degree from St. Anthony School of Nursing in 1946.

Following graduation, this young RN, age 20, traveled by rail to the West Coast with her older and most beloved sister, Marietta. Alice nursed at Swedish Hospital in Seattle and there she met her future husband, William D. Maher, M.D..

In 1947, Alice truly enjoyed working as a stewardess for United Air Lines and split her work schedule between nursing and flying to the Nation of Hawaii, which was her favorite flight.

She and Bill wed in Carroll, Iowa on June 22, 1949 and upon return to the northwest they lived in Tacoma, Washington where she briefly nursed at Tacoma General Hospital. They settled in Yakima in 1951 to establish Bill’s medical career in anesthesiology and Alice nursed at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. They soon welcomed three daughters and rounded out their family unit with a son.

Together, Alice and Bill worked very hard and saved to build their dream family home on Avalanche Avenue, where Alice proudly resided for the next 61 years. Her energies were focused on managing her household, raising her children, and overseeing the family fruit orchards in the Lower Valley and their cattle ranch located in Moxee, WA. While her children slept at night, Alice nursed the night shift at nearby Central Convalescent Nursing Home.

After her children were raised, Alice continued her nursing career. She spent the next 28 years as the evening/night house supervisor at Toppenish Community Hospital until her retirement in 2006 at the age of 81.

During her retirement, Alice remained active gardening, cooking, playing cards and tennis, and spending time with family and close friends. She especially enjoyed her afternoon nap and sipping a cold Foster’s beer while relaxing on her swing in the backyard during summer evenings. Her Saturday nights were always booked with Mollie B’s televised Polka Band hour.

Everyone who met Alice was immediately drawn to her, as she was always collecting hugs. She was very people oriented and enjoyed giving to others in any way possible.

She is survived by her three daughters; Mary (George) Rhoades of Fort Collins, CO; Elizabeth Maher of Spokane, WA; and Jane (Thomas) Goodhue of Lake Oswego, OR. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Kristin (Robert) Bauer, John Rhoades, Peter (Kristin) Rhoades, Paul Goodhue, and Lauren (Anthony) Beattie; great grandchildren Kora Rhoades, Jackson Bauer and soon-to-be born, Lincoln Rhoades; and numerous nieces and nephews. Alice held dear her sister Marietta’s seven children, particularly her “etta girls,” Mary Alice O’Connor, Teri Christoph, and Kelly Schmank. Alice is preceded in death by her loving husband, Bill, and her son, James R. Maher.

Visitation will be held from 11:00am to 4:00pm, Sunday, February 26, 2017 at Keith and Keith Funeral Home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Church (5315 Tieton Drive, Yakima) on Tuesday, February 28th at 10:30am with burial services at the Terrace Heights Memorial Park to follow.

Cards of condolence may be sent to Elizabeth Maher, P.O. Box 30805, Spokane, WA 99223. “Nurse Elizabeth” and “Lawyer Lauren” extend a special thank you to Alice’s devoted caregivers at Cottage in the Meadow.