She was born Alma Maye Alexander on October 15, 1926, in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada, to American parents James Wesley Alexander and Alma Morgo (Pearson) Alexander. The family moved to Peoria, IL, in 1938.
Alma married Ross Andrew Somerville on January 19, 1949, in Wenona, IL, and lived in Bloomington, IL; St. Louis, MO; Peoria, IL; Las Vegas, NV; Champaign, IL; and Belvidere, IL. Her husband passed away August 9, 2010, in Belvidere.
Mrs. Somerville is survived by two children: Scott (Bev) Somerville; Susan (Charles) Brown; life partner of Michael Somerville Mary Ingman; five grandchildren: Brittony Somerville; Reneé (Jeff) Lee; Ross (Caitlin) Somerville; Kayce (Steven) Severin, Chad (Candice) Herman; five great-grandchildren: Arabella Harrison; Griffin Lee; Zachary Severin, Emma and Gavin Herman; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one brother, three sisters, one nephew, and one son Michael Somerville.
Alma graduated from Woodruff High School, where she was a drum majorette and singer and went on to do both in college. In 1949 she received a Bachelor of Music degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, and became a singer, music teacher, and the choir director at Forrest Hill United Methodist Church of Peoria. For several years she sang with the Peoria Philharmonic Chorale, and was a soloist for the Christian Science Church. In Las Vegas she sang at UNLV with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society and University United Methodist Church Choir. She also worked in several retail stores, and retired in 1986 from Carson Pirie Scott in Urbana, IL. She was an avid reader, loved to paint, and enjoyed time with her family.
A celebration of life will be held 7:00 p.m. Friday June 25, 2021 at University United Methodist Church in Peoria. A visitation will be held an hour prior. Burial will held Saturday June 26, 2021 at Biggsville Cemetery.
Please view her obituary and share memories and condolences through Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes and Crematory at www.preston-hanley.com .
Memorials may be made in her name to The Salvation Army, or people are asked to support Mouth and Foot Painting Artists at https://mfpausa.com/.
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