By Alice B. Andrews, Ozark Society Conservation Chair

When describing a rare human being, where to begin…….

Alice was born in El Dorado, AR, 1946. The family home there was dear to her. She continued to maintain the family home and spent the winters there in the midst of pine trees and quiet woods along with her beloved cats and dogs.

Alice graduated from Henderson College in Arkadelphia, and was soon employed at Cranford Johnson Advertising Agency, creating artistic ads. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree studying under the abstract expressionist painter Grace Hartigan. Her honors include a residency with the Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, NM, a Wolf Kahn fellowship in Vermont, a grant at the internationally famous San Miguel de Allende Art Institute in Mexico and a selection for show by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Alice is well-known in the art world.

When I first met Alice (early seventies) she lived in LR, near my home. Because our names were the same, we frequently received each others ‘phone calls. Our mutual interest in the outdoors, canoeing, kayaking and hiking meant we each received calls from people we didn’t know and chatted a few minutes before we figured out that the caller had the wrong Alice. The call always ended comically.

Alice was a pretty red head with naturally curly hair, beautiful eyes and a sweet smile, an outdoor lover and made her home welcome to any lost, abandoned and feral creatures. She described a feral hog family crossing her yard – admitting that they were a nuisance but really cute. “There were three large black ones, four babies, brown, black and spotted with polka dots.”
She was enchanted with the beauty of Boxley Valley. In 1993 she bought and restored a historic 19th century house on Beech Creek, down the road behind the Boxley Church and Cemetery. This beautiful creek and surrounding area became her sanctuary, a place to meditate, to sense tranquility and admire the trees, plants, wildlife, birds and interesting rocks. Observations made while wading the creek further drove her inspiration to paint the natural world. Alice’s talent in creating delightful paintings revealed a natural-born artist. Other subjects included painting flowers, gardens, barns, animals, streams, woods and Cows, especially Holsteins, black and white. The Cows became her most popular paintings. Her art is found at Children’s Hospital, Baptist Hospital, UAMS and in many homes of collectors. Her art is also found in several galleries in LR and the state. As time went by her style and interest expanded toward modern art as well as abstract and contemporary paintings. Being a gifted artist is not easy, it is often a lonely life, seeing the world through differently inspired eyes and thoughts. Alice’s sister, Katie said, “Alice’s artwork will continue to be cherished in homes, hospitals, corporations and universities throughout Arkansas and the U.S. Her work and the joy it brings to the viewer, is her greatest legacy.”

Beyond Alice’s artistic life, she loved being outdoors in the natural world, hiking and kayaking. She was a long-term member of the Ozark Society, actively engaging in outings and donating paintings for Ozark Society fund-raising projects. Alice was a strong and faithful advocate for protecting and preserving the beauty of Arkansas and our amazing planet Earth.

This incredibly kind woman adopted many homeless cats and dogs, aside from her own pets. These creatures seemed to intuitively know (and spread the word) that Alice would care for them. She fed and sheltered a steady troop of lost or abandoned animals for many years. The depth of her kindness extended to everyone, especially her beloved family and friends. On the spur of a moment, she cooked up tasty meals, food gifts, bouquets, shared her home and loaned her car when needed by friends.

Alice bid farewell to family and friends December 5, 2021, while doing what she loved most, hiking in Lost Valley immersed in nature. Her spirit lives on!