Alice Priester Obituary

Alice Rock Priester was born on Almond Street Philadelphia Pennsylvania February 2nd 1920, the second child of Andrew and Mary Rock. The family moved to Four States WV after her father found work in the coal mine there in 1924. Her Mother was a loving housewife who tended to 5 children and taught them many skills to last lifelong. Cooking, housekeeping, planting, and pickling, respect for all living things. They also tended two cows (Daisy and Pansy) numerous chickens, ducks, and the watchdogs of the property geese. They had numerous pets which began all 5 of them a lifelong love of dogs. Alice attended Farmington High School, and although she didn't graduate, she obtained a GED and later attended Fairmont State University. She didn't graduate high school because she accepted a job with the co-owners of Hartley's Department Store as a domestic at their home "Summerfield" on the crown of Hillcrest in Fairmont. With the Rownds at Summerfield Alice was not only a domestic but also a friend; she accompanied the family on trips to the United States southwest, New York City, Chicago, Cleveland, and Washington D.C. During this time Arthurdale WV was being developed by Mrs. Roosevelt. Alice traveled there several times with the Rownd family and was privileged to speak with Mrs. Roosevelt on a couple of occasions. While with the Rownds she had the experience of meeting and working with a freeman South Carolina slave Charles White from the civil war era. Not many can say that they had that privilege. Speaking with the first lady of the United States and working with a freed Geechee man wow whata story. She stayed with J.H.(Jack) and Mrs. Rownd (Elizabeth) for 10 years and near the end she purchased a brand new 1949 Cream Buick Roadmaster convertible, that made several people in Farmington jealous. She had known P.D. Priester all her life but hadn't thought of him romantically, then he started courting her. They married 14 June 1950 at St. Peter's Catholic church in their hometown of Farmington. They setup housekeeping in the #9 community where Alice was greatly involved in the push to obtain "city" water to the area, all the while working 40 hours a week at the company store and raising a brat they had named Fred-Rock Priester. Alice later started a career at Fairmont State University in the cafeteria, working for Frank Pulice. She loved working there with the people and especially the students, and several football players became lifelong friends and admirers. Alice was a lifelong member of St. Peters Catholic Church in Farmington, serving on numerous committees over the years. She also was on the first committee to raise funds to build the new Farmington Community Building and was very proud of the results. Alice is survived by her son Fred-Rock Priester of Farmington. Step-son Richard Daniel Priester of Norfolk VA. and Nephew Richard and Niece Maria Priester also of Norfolk VA. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul Daniel Priester, sisters Anna Rock of the #9 community, Mary Rock Marquez of Alhambra CA, Katy Rock Reeves of Norfolk VA, and a brother Fred Rock of #9 community. We would like to thank those who kept her in their hearts and called her on the phone(she loved to talk on the phone) Linda and Mickey Abruzzino, Betty Jo and George Tippner and Meredith and Rudy Banick. The family would like to thank the staff and management of Fazio's Eldercare for their devoted and professional care for Mom. The pallbearers are Andrew Opyoke, K.C. Jones, George Tippner, Bill Glasscock, Rich Priester, and Fred-Rock Priester. Honorary pallbearers are Richard Priester Sr. and Stephen "Cicso" Priester. Friends will be received at the Hutson funeral home, 3171 Husky Highway, Farmington from 2 to 8pm Friday June 27th and 9 till 9.45 Saturday morning June 28th. a funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Peter's Catholic Church Farmington at 10am. Then the interment will be at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Fairmont. Alice will be buried next to the love of her life Paul Daniel Priester and beside her Mother Mary and brother Fred at Mt. Carmel cemetery in Fairmont West Virginia. Complete full obituary can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/farmingtonfarmers/