Alice Butler Barrett Parke (1861-1952) lived at home in Port Dover, Ontario until asked by her brother Harry Barrett to keep house for him and their uncle Henry Barrett, who owned a ranch north of Otter Lake in Spallumcheen, B.C. Alice arrived at the ranch in 1891. An early visitor to the ranch was Harold (Hal) Randolph Parke, a freight-wagon teamster. After several proposals, Alice and Harold were married in Port Dover in 1893. They made their home in Vernon, with Hal working over the years as postmaster, city assessor, policeman, jailer, district road foreman, and BX Ranch manager. Alice involved herself in her husband's work, often helping him with paperwork, working in the post office, and occasionally travelling with him on inspections. Otherwise, Alice spent her days calling on and being called on by her many friends. She was often asked to play the piano for social evenings and concerts. Not long after the death of their only child in 1901, Alice and Hal left Vernon and moved to Fort Saskatchewan, where they opened a market garden. After Hal became ill, the couple returned to Port Dover where he died in 1915. Alice lived on in the family home until her death in 1952.