Mary Alice "Hozy" Barris, formerly of West Middlesex, passed away at 11:07 p.m. Wednesday (5-28-14) in Avalon Springs Nursing Home, Coolspring Township, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. She was 85. She was born in Transfer, June 5, 1928, a daughter of Frank and Iva Verna Alice (Dunkerly) Adams. A lifelong area resident, she graduated from the former Transfer High School. She had worked at Werner Co., Sugar Grove Township, Packard Electric, Warren, Ohio, and the former Sharon Transformer division of Westinghouse Electric Corp. She acquired her nickname "Hozy" at a young age while attending 4H camp. It was during a game that she and some other girls, one of whom was her favorite cousin, were playing. When it came time for her turn, the choice of names were Brownie, Mousie and Hozy and she was assigned Hozy. Although she never liked the nickname they gave her, it seemed to stick with her throughout her life. She married her husband Jerald "Jerry" Walter Barris Sr. on Aug. 16, 1952, and they made their home in West Middlesex. Jerry passed away Sept. 28, 2010. Mary Alice's family and home were the center of her life. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, especially out west, and spending time with her family, but her fondest moments were staying with some of her grandchildren when they were ill or when their parents went away. She is survived by three children: Rebecca (Robert) Rizzonelli, Erie; Barbara Barris and Jerald W. Barris, Jr., West Middlesex; five grandchildren: Brandon, Jarrett and Jenna Rizzonelli, Erie; Jay (Jennifer) Barris, Hermitage; and Tyler Barris, West Middlesex; and one great-grandson, Hunter Barris. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerald W. Barris, brothers, Frank, Wayne and Dick Adams, and a sister, Doris Waldorf. Calling hours: In keeping with her wishes, there will be no calling hours. Burial: With her parents at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage.