Alice Louise Houghtaling

Alice Louise Duff Houghtaling, formerly of Schenectady, New York, beloved by friends and family near and far, died on Thursday, January 27, 2022 after a brief illness in Bend, Oregon. She was 71 years old. Alice was born December 15, 1950 in Seattle, WA to the late David and Helenmae (Meyers) Duff. She was raised in The Dalles, OR, along the Columbia River where her father was Chief of Operations at The Dalles Dam. Growing up, Alice spent her time involved in church youth activities. She loved reading and read everything she could get her hands on. Important parts of their family life were card and dice games and summer camping trips around the Pacific Northwest with family friends. Alice attended school all 12 years in The Dalles, graduating in the Class of 1969. During high school there she met the love of her life, David Houghtaling. They attended Oregon State University together where she majored in French, and they were married in 1971 in The Dalles. They skipped college graduation in 1973 to move to Schenectady after Dave was recruited by General Electric. During his tenure with G.E., Alice was delighted to accompany him to Egypt on one of his many trips. They lived 40 years in Schenectady where they raised a son, Paul, and moved back to Oregon to be closer to family when Dave retired in 2013. Through 47 years of marriage, they were each other's North Star. Alice saw every person's essential humanity, embraced life's complexity with calming steadiness, and maintained deep relationships that spanned distance and decades. Raised in the Methodist Church, spiritual questioning and listening were the bedrock of her life's experience. Following this calling, in her mid-life, Alice completed training as a Spiritual Director with the Shalem Institute, and she traveled regularly throughout the Northeast to participate or lead programs in contemplative spirituality. Alice eventually completed graduate training in chaplaincy and then worked in pediatric palliative care at Albany Medical Center. She ultimately found a spiritual community in silence and fellowship with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Creativity radiated from most things Alice did, whether hosting, presenting, playing with her grandkids, or counseling a patient, and she delighted in diversity. Piano and calligraphy were among her long-standing artistic expressions. Alice is survived by her son, Paul and his wife, Julie; two much-loved grandchildren, Killian (Brook) and Sierra; her sister, Jacqueline Crowson; cousins, nieces, nephews; in-law relatives; and dear friends, the Peters-Driscoll family. Alice's son was at her side when she passed. Memorial donations can be made to Destination Rehab (DestinationRehab.org) of Bend, OR, an innovative outdoor adventure physical therapy program for people and caregivers dealing with neurologic conditions. Dave and Alice found great enjoyment and community there during Dave's Alzheimer's journey. After Dave died in 2019, Alice became a board member and was planning a new program to support caregivers when she unexpectedly passed.

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Alice Louise Houghtaling

December 15, 1950 - January 27, 2022