Mary Alice Poling

Mary Alice Poling, age 95, a resident of the Valley Furnace Community departed this life Wednesday, January 13, 2021. She was born September 13, 1925 in Barbour County, WV. She was the daughter of the late Walter and Ocie (Mineere) Sherman. Mary was united in marriage on May 3, 1947 to Harley O. Poling who preceded her in death on November 24, 2019; they were blessed to have celebrated 72 years of marriage.

Surviving are her three devoted children:
Louise Hutson and husband Gary
Tom Poling and wife Ramile
Nancy Kelley and husband Jeff

She was blessed with seven loving grandchildren:
Christy Simonds and husband Roger, Heather Hutson, Sarah Thornbury and husband Brian, Amy Rosendale and husband Joey, Amber Gatewood and husband Mark, Ashley Workman and husband Evan, Amanda Sweet and husband Andrew.

She was also blessed with thirteen lively great grandchildren: Haley and Brendan Simonds, Caleb and Emma Hartwell, Cole and Ally Rosendale, Grace, Hanna, and William Thornbury, Easton and Archer Workman, Tucker Sweet, and Harley Gatewood.

Also surviving is sister-in-law, Maxine Poling.

She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Virginia Smith and Ruth Jones.

Mary grew up in Meadowville and graduated from Belington High School as salutatorian in 1943. She was a longtime member of New Hope Valley Church and Ladies Aid Society, Sunday school teacher, and 4-H leader of the Valley Furnace Lamplighters. A veracious reader, she picked up any book she could get her hands on, often finishing them in a day. She could still recite sonnets and poems from her grade school readers and sang special nursery rhymes to her grandchildren, always with a twist. Every summer, well into her nineties, she could be found in the garden, tending to her flowers, or canning. In the winter, she worked on quilts or crocheted. Mary loved cooking big country meals for family and farmhands and made the tastiest chocolate cake, coconut cream pie, peanut butter and popcorn balls. Her family will lovingly remember her quick wit, humor, and gentle nature; she’d say, “Don’t worry about things that you can’t do anything about!”

A private family funeral service will be conducted at the convenience of the family with Reverend Tammy Phillips officiating. Interment will be at the Central Chapel Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Central Chapel Cemetery Fund c/o Debbie Poling 92 Allegheny Ln. Philippi, WV 26416 or New Hope Valley Cemetery Fund c/o Jeff Kelley 1888 Mountaineer Rd. Moatsville, WV 26405.