Mary Alice (Gallaher) Masters, 76, of Kittanning went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday surrounded by her loving family at home.

She was born Sept. 20, 1932, in Kittanning, to the late William E. Gallaher Jr. and Alice (Rush) Gallaher.

She was a lifelong resident of Kittanning.

She was a 1953 graduate of the Allegheny Valley School of Nursing and furthered her education at Indiana (Pa.) University.

She was a registered nurse at ACMH Hospital for 33 years, worked at the Visiting Nurse's Association as a charge nurse and completed her nursing career as a clinical nursing instructor at Lenape Vo-Tech.

She was a lifelong member of the First Church of God in Kittanning, an active member of the choir, a Sunday school teacher, a Sunday school superintendent and a Christian education board member. She was a blood drive coordinator of the American Red Cross for many years and a member of the Woodmen of the World Lodge 687.

Surviving are her husband, Carl A. Masters, who she married on Sept. 18, 1953. After 55 years, their dedication and love for each other was a true testimony of Christian commitment and love to all who knew them.

She also is survived by her five children, Marcia Long (Don) of Worthington, Carl Masters Jr. (Andrea) of Kittanning, Karen Hayes (Jeff) of Winterhaven, Fla., David Masters of Wesley Chapel, Fla., and Cathy Anthony (Kevin) of Kittanning; nine grandchildren, Mari Zilla (Chris), Mandy Jones (Dan), Jessica, Brock, Cara, Angela and Amy Masters and Devin and Noah Anthony; one great-granddaughter, Megan Dawn Zilla; three brothers, Wiliam E. Gallaher III (Dorothy), George R. Gallaher and David M. Gallaher (Carolyn); one sister, Carolyn J. Waters (William); one sister-in-law, Ruth Gallaher and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, James Gallaher; a sister-in-law, Carol Gallaher; a niece, Amy Gallaher and a nephew, David Gallaher.

<B>MASTERS</B> — Friends of Mary Alice (Gallaher) Masters, who died Friday, May 15, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday at <B>Snyder-Crissman Funeral Home</B> in Kittanning. The celebration of her life services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First Church of God, 629 Woodward Ave., Kittanning, conducted by her pastor, Dr. Stan Schilfarth, and her son-in-law, Dr. Jeffrey D. Hayes. Additional visitation will be held one hour before the service. Interment will follow at Lawn Haven Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of God.For more information or to send an online condolence, visit www.snydercrissman.com.