Rev. Alice McFeely Meloy died peacefully at her home in Doylesburg, surrounded by her family, on Sunday, August 15, 2021.  She had just turned 93.  The only child of Herbert and Hope Ferguson McFeely, she was born in Wilkes Barre, PA on August 10, 1928.  She spent her childhood in Doylesburg, PA, Lansdowne, PA and Highland Park, NJ where she graduated from Highland Park High School in 1946.

Alice earned a degree in Music Education from Penn State University in 1950.  She spent the next year teaching music in the Perry County School District and then went on to Princeton Theological Seminary, where she graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1954.  A forerunner in her field, she was the only woman in her class and the twelfth woman to earn her M.Div. at Princeton.

In August of that same year, she married Richard Meloy, a fellow pastor and her husband of 62 years.  They started out in Central Pennsylvania and then lived in the suburbs of Philadelphia—first in Lansdowne, PA and then in Haddon Township, NJ.  Over the next two decades, she poured herself into raising their three children and serving the church in a variety of ways.  She also wrote articles for a number of magazines and developed a series of scripts for New Jersey Public Television.  In 1976, she was called to serve as the pastor of Gloucester City Presbyterian Church in Gloucester City, NJ and was ordained by West Jersey Presbytery.  Four years later, she received a call to East Kishacoquillas Presbyterian Church in Reedsville, PA where she served until her retirement in 1994.

In the years after retirement, Alice worked closely with congregations in Neelyton, Orbisonia, Shade Gap, and Waterloo.  She also served on the Board of Habitat for Humanity, was active in several environmental and political organizations, and was a member of the Board of the Path Valley Historical Society.  She published a number of historically based books, including As the Crow Flies, One Small Valley Volumes 1 and 2, and, most recently, An Unexpected Friendship.

Throughout her ministry, she was active in presbytery and synod and served on a host of committees.  She was energetic, imaginative, and creative, and frequently used the arts to teach and to enhance worship.  A born educator, she had a gift for seeing the potential in both people and situations.  She loved to learn and was a dedicated pastor, a devoted mother, and a wise and steady friend.

Alice is survived by three children: Michael Meloy and his wife Lise of Swarthmore, PA, Merry Hope Meloy of Butler, PA, and Meg Meloy of Boalsburg, PA; and three grandchildren, Meghan Meloy Ness and her husband Scott, Grace Meloy and her husband Alex Host, and Abigail Meloy.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard who died on April 1, 2017, and her son-in-law Robert Weir, Jr.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at the State College Presbyterian Church in State College, PA.  Rev. Joy Kaufmann, Rev. Dean Lindsey, Rev. Sam Strohm and Rev. Merry Hope Meloy will officiate. The service will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person, the link is https://youtu.be/SdqanwgoLjI For more information, please visit the church website: scpresby.org.  At 4:00 pm on Sunday, August 29, 2021, a graveside service will be held at the old United Presbyterian Church Cemetery along Route 75 south of Concord with Pastor Darwin Goshorn, Rev. Francois Lacroix and Rev. Merry Hope Meloy officiating.  Arrangements are entrusted to the Agett-Lakjer Funeral Home in Spring Run, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Alice Meloy's name to Krislund Camp and Conference Center, P.O. Box 116, Madisonburg, PA 16852.  Memorial gifts may also be sent to the Path Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 171, Spring Run, PA 17262 and to Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County, 1502 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA 17202.  www.agettlakjer.com