PRINCETON — Looking for that blessed hope, Alma Allison Gross Harvey, 85, of the Eads Mill Road, Princeton, departed this life on Monday, November 7, 2011 at Carilion Giles Community Hospital in Pearisburg, Va. and is now resting in peace, awaiting the glorious appearance of our great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Born January 7, 1926 in Elbert, she was the daughter of the late Paris K. Gross and Mollie Ann Myers Gross. Mrs. Harvey was a graduate of Gary High School and was a former employee for the Union Supply Company Store at Gary. Mrs. Harvey was an active member of the Advent Christian Church on Prince Street in Princeton for many years. She served as a Sunday school teacher, past president of the Women Home & Foreign Mission Society for the church as well as the conference. She had served as treasurer for the church as well as for the Pocahontas Conference and was the past treasurer for the Pocahontas Women's Home & Foreign Mission Society. Mrs. Harvey will be remembered as a devoted pastor's wife, always  supportive, one who preferred to serve behind the scene, yet, had a strong leadership role in the church and with her family. Mrs. Harvey was a wise person and offered practical advice to her family and friends. Her talents were many, none more than her cooking skills, especially her ability to make chicken and dumplings, a gift that has yet to be mastered by her children and grandchildren.  She had baked and decorated many cakes, making wedding cakes for her family and many friends. Mrs. Harvey and the ladies of the church had enjoyed making Easter eggs for the church and surrounding communities. No one enjoyed laughter more than Mrs. Harvey. She loved pulling practical jokes on her family and friends. Those who have had the privilege of knowing Mrs. Harvey have had their lives blessed and enriched greatly, and her memory will live for years to come in all our lives.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four sisters and five brothers.

She will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her husband of 66 years, two months and seven days, Pastor Orville L. Harvey; two devoted daughters and their husbands, Anne “Florence” and James Smith of Roanoke, Va., Karen and David Hall of Princeton; a special nephew who she loved dearly, Von Peery and his wife Jan of North Aurora, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Andrea and Mark Starosciak, Matthew and Anne Smith, Allison and Chris Hall, D. J. and Sarah Hall, Caleb Peery, Mollie Peery, Xander Peery; four great-grandchildren, Natalie Hall, Micah Hall, Lily Starosciak and Annalee Hall; one brother, Robert “Bob” Gross and wife Barbara of Riodosa, N.M.; a host of dearly loved nieces and nephews.

On Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 11:00 a.m., we will celebrate the life of Mrs. Alma Harvey from the Advent Christian Church on Prince Street in Princeton with Pastor Rob Buchanan officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. Friends are invited to visit with the family Wednesday from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Memorial Funeral Directory on the Athens Road in Princeton and one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Family and friends may share messages of love and concern via www.memorialfd.com

Serving as pallbearers will be James Smith, David Hall, Von Peery, Matthew Smith, D. J. Hall, Mark Starosciak, Chris Hall, and Eugene Hudgins. Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Baxter, Kenneth Curley, Mike Cox, Mike Blackwell, Doyle Wray, Curtis Weese, Joe Phillips and Don Whitacre. The family will receive flowers or gifts can be made to the Building Fund, Advent Christian Church, 706 Prince Street, Princeton, WV 24740. The honor of serving the Harvey family has been given to the Memorial Funeral Directory & Cremation Center on the Athens Road in Princeton.