Alice Samples, 76, of Dawsonville, died May 16, 2012.

She was born Feb. 25, 1936, in Rome, Ga., and had lived in Dawson County since 1955.

She loved the community and helped create what is now the Moonshine Festival.

She also worked to help keep the local cannery open for many years. She was a member of McKee's Chapel United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband of 57 years, Ralph Samples of Dawsonville; children, Ray and Jammye Samples, Margaret and Larry Kollar, Virginia and Stephen Shealy, all of Dawsonville, Mary Samples Clayton of Douglasville; brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Sophie Long of Milledgeville, J.H. and Barbara Cooper of Rome; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; various other relatives also survive.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. May 19 at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Sven Mossenger officiating. Interment followed in the McKee's Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations were requested made to the McKee's Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 2754 Elliott Family Parkway, Dawsonville, GA 30534.

Bearden Funeral Home of Dawsonville was in charge of the arrangements.