Alice was born to parents Raymond Mack Tharp and Lorraine Tharp on May 15, 1941, in Rogers, Texas. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rogers High School in 1959, married her high school sweetheart, Howard Pierce, in 1960, and went on to have 3 children, Tammy, Debby, and Amy. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude from Houston Baptist University in 1975 with a BA in education.
Alice was a devoted follower of Christ, teacher, writer, and caregiver. She greatly blessed her family, church, and students through her life of service. She taught at numerous schools including Elsik High School in Houston and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. She supported her students well beyond the classroom by providing words of encouragement in letters and calls far into her life. Her writing also influenced many through her publications in Guidepost and other Christian magazines. She selflessly cared for her husband throughout his courageous battle with heart disease and joyously advocated for Tammy, her daughter with Down syndrome. She served her church through prayer, playing piano, teaching Sunday school, and women's Bible studies. One of her favorite hobbies included keeping the history of churches like Val Verde Baptist Church alive for future generations. In retirement, you could find her curled up with a good book, researching genealogy, writing in her prayer journal, or sharing memories and laughter with family and friends.
Alice is preceded in death by her husband, Howard; daughter, Tammy; parents, Mack and Lorraine Tharp; brother, Thomas Tharp; and sister Charlene Samson. She is survived by many loving family members, including brother, Raymond Tharp; daughters, Debby McElroy and Amy Kelley; 5 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held in her honor at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at Val Verde Baptist Church 1067 FM 2268, Holland, TX 76534 with a graveside service to immediately follow. Flowers may be sent to Scanio-Harper Funeral Home 3110 Airport Rd, Temple, TX 76504. The family requests any donations to go to Forever Families Inc. at foreverfamilies.salsalabs.org (See link below)
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