If you've been a soap watcher, you've probably seen the work of Frances Reid. Best known as Alice Horton on 'Days of Our Lives,' Frances Reid died yesterday at the age of 95.

For more than 40 years, Frances was the matriarch of the Horton family, Grandma Alice, one the wisest, wittiest and most charming oldster on daytime. She was 'Days of Our Lives' Rock of Gibralter, her character was the center of her family, the heart that kept it all together even when bizarre circumstances threatened to tear the Hortons apart.

In the early years, working opposite MacDonald Carey as Dr. Tom Horton, the stories were more familial. It was Alice who helped Bill and Mickey deal with being in love with the same woman, Laura. And when her presumed dead son Tommy Jr. was discovered to be back in Salem with a new face and no memory of his past, it was Alice that remained strong for her daughter Marie, who had fallen in love a doctor -- Tommy -- never knowing he was her brother.

Ken Corday, executive producer of 'Days' released this statement regarding Frances' passing: "This is a very sad day, indeed; not only for me personally, but for the 'Days of our Lives' family and the entire Hollywood community. From day one until she taped her last scene, Frances epitomized the past, present and future of the show. Frances was truly one of a kind. Her class cannot be matched and her shoes cannot be filled... we will miss her all the rest of our days."

Over the years, 'Days' writers realized that in Frances Reid they had an actress who could play even the most dramatic material with a light touch. During the height of the Bo and Hope love story, Mrs. H. as Bo referred to her, became an integral culprit in their story lines. With Roman and Marlena she used her homemade donuts in a ruse to break Roman out of jail. Take a look at the way thing were back in 1983 (listen to the promo for 'Another World'!):




And no matter what has happened in Salem over the years, the traditional hanging of the family name ornaments on the Horton Christmas tree is a reminder that some good things never change. This year's ritual will no doubt be bittersweet without Alice to watch over the proceedings.

This is the second passing of a soap legend in just a few weeks. 'All My Children's' James Mitchell died on January 23, 2010. 'AMC' plans a tribute to Mitchell in the week's ahead. Most certainly, NBC and 'Days' will do just as much or more for Frances Reid.