Alice Ranft Hamilton , 91, formally of Paducah, passed away on June 18, 2015 at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland, MS.
Our Mother Alice was born in Detroit Michigan on April 1, 1924 to Vera Heller Ranft and John Frederick Ranft also of Detroit. She had a full and outgoing youth and remained close to her childhood friends, vacationing and phoning one another throughout her life
She married John Watson Holmes in Detroit and settled in Paducah. From this marriage she had a son John and a daughter Alison. After her husband's death, she married Phillip Hamilton of Kuttawa and they had a daughter Mollie. They were married for 42 years until his death in 1998.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, and the PEO Sisterhood. Mindful of her community, she was a Paducah Ambassador, a Duchess of Paducah, a Kentucky Colonel and was commended for her volunteerism during the Bicentennial Commemoration of the Lewis & Clark Expedition sponsored by the Great Lakes & Ohio River Division. Alice was a recipient of the Alben Barkley Distinguished Citizen Award and served on the City of Kuttawa's Board of Ethics in addition to serving at every opportunity for the Republican Party.
Our beautiful mother was a loyal, trustworthy woman who cared deeply for her children, neighbors and friends. She encouraged us to be independent and purposeful in our living often helping to face our challenges with one of her favorite phrases "You don't have to like it, you just have to do it". Always determined (head strong), practical(opinionated) and passionate(argumentative), she will be irreplaceable and missed beyond description. She lingered in compassionate Hospice care for sometime sleeping and surely dreaming of parties, dancing and laughter. The true matriarch of our family and our fiercest ally will surely bring a little more sparkle to an already brilliant heaven.
Alice is predeceased by her parents, her sister Mary and husbands, John and Phillip. She is survived by her children John Holmes of Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, Alison Hume(Jim) of Versailles, KY and Mollie Corulla (Vince) of Madison, MS; four grandchildren, David, Lisa, Mick and Alex and two great grandchildren, Ryan and Erin.
A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2015 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah. Burial will follow at Doom Chapel Cemetery in Kuttawa, KY. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until the service time of 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2015 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah.
The family would like to thank Hospice Ministries, Covenant Caregivers and The Blake for their support. Please remember her by doing something kind for someone, feeding a hungry stray or pausing to feel the sunshine on your face.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to: Hospice Ministries, 450 Towne Center Blvd., Ridgeland, MS 39157.
You may leave a message, light a candle or share a song tribute at www.milnerandorr.com
