Obituary
Alice Cook Batson

Alice Cook Batson July 22, 1926 – January 15, 2024 Alice Cook Batson passed away peacefully on January 15, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. She was 97 years old. Family and friends will remember her as a gracious and capable woman with a fun-loving attitude and great sense of humor. Alice Claire Cook was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, FL at a time when that area was truly a tropical paradise, and lived there until she graduated from the University of Miami with a full scholarship. Growing up, she was active in dance and enjoyed bonfires on the beach with friends. She met Walter Kelly Batson when she coached him for a late WWII USO show (he was one of the naval officers can-can dancers!) and they were married in 1950. After marriage, Kelly’s work took them to various locations in NC, including Charlotte and Asheboro where they raised four children. After Kelly’s death in 1985, Alice settled in Cary, NC. Alice had a long career, working as a CPA for local and regional accounting firms where she specialized in municipal audits and tax consulting. In her early career she fought an uphill battle as a woman in a then male-dominated profession. She was only the second woman in the state of Florida to pass the CPA exam and was often told that “pretty women did not go into business”. She was determined to prove them wrong – and did! Once her children were older, Alice became very active in community and church service organizations. As a long-time member of the Cary Pilot Club she held local and state leadership positions and was a wizard at organizing catering events to fund charitable projects. She volunteered for many years (over 4000 hours) in the Rex Hospital Gift Shop, handling bookkeeping and finding joy in helping new grandparents buy that special gift for a new arrival. In addition, she assisted with the Wake County Lifesaver program and was active in the First United Methodist Church of Cary. Despite her accomplishments, Alice will primarily be remembered for her full circle of friends and active lifestyle. She enjoyed participating in several bridge clubs, playing canasta and other card games with friends and going on church outings. She was fortunate to have dear friends, including her beloved “Rubies” ladies, her Circle Group at church, her godchildren, and neighbors and staff at Woodland Terrace and Carolina Reserve of Durham. Alice enjoyed traveling with family and friends and was a delightful and adventurous companion. Best of all – she truly knew what it meant to be a good friend and was a great joy to those she loved. Alice was an adored mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt. She encouraged and supported her children and was always there when they needed her. She reveled in time with her grandsons and great grandson and was thrilled to finally get a baby girl in the family when her great granddaughter was born. She is survived by sons David Batson (Nancy) and Alan Batson and by daughters Gail Fowler and Linda English (Bob), grandsons Miles Batson, Grant Fowler (Pier), Virgil English, and David Fowler (Emma), great grandchildren Calvin and Avery Fowler, and many loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Walter Kelly Batson and son-in-law Thomas Land Fowler. A memorial and celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday February 17 at the First United Methodist Church of Cary, located at 117 South Academy Street, Cary, NC, 27511. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. Friends and family are encouraged to wear something green (Alice’s favorite color). In lieu of flowers the family requests that you contribute to the Caregivers Appreciation Fund at Carolina Reserve of Durham, 4523 Hope Valley Rd. Durham, NC 27707 or to a favorite charity of your choice.