Grace Layne Vess, 93, of 4605 Longdale Furnace Road, Clifton Forge, Virginia, passed away at her home on Sunday, July 26, 2015 after enduring over two years of hospice care.

She was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, on June 3, 1922, a daughter of the late Joshua William Layne and Fannie Bell Sweet Layne.

She was a homemaker throughout her life.

Mrs. Vess worked at the former C & O Steam Laundry and the Clifton Forge Steam Laundry for a number of years.

She was a member of the Central Advent Christian Church, the Ladies Bible Class of the Church, and was a retired caretaker of the church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Eldon "Ed" Vess; four brothers and five sisters.

She is survived by her four children, Betty Schooler and husband, Roger, Jean Tucker, Jerry Vess, Sr. and wife, Crystal, all of Clifton Forge, and Donnie Vess and Arlinda of Fayetteville, Tennessee.

Known as Gaw or GawGaw, she is survived by five grandchildren, Missy Lawrence and Bret and Jamie Schooler and Valerie, both of Covington; Jerry Vess, Jr. and Teresa of Clifton Forge, David Vess and Christy of Alabama, and Dawn Gregory and Joe of Missouri; thirteen great grandchildren, Carolyn Grace Lawrence, Rachael Ann Lawrence and Garret Thomas Lawrence, Isabella Raine Schooler, Melinda Dawn Benson, Justin Lee Vess and Benjamin Heath Vess, Caleb Price Vess and Darby Kate Vess, Kasey Renee Lewter, Brandon Price Lewter, Dylan James Lewter and Kaitlynn Ailene Lewter; one great, great granddaughter Jeslyn Dawn Vess; a sister, Virginia Layne Nicely of Clifton Forge; a number of nieces and nephews and a very special friend Nikki Webb.

A funeral service will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. from the Central Advent Christian Church with the Rev. Gene Ayers officiating.

The family will receive friends at the church from 3:00 p.m. until service time. Interment will be made in the Central Advent Christian Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Garret Lawrence, Bret Lawrence, Jamie Schooler, David Vess, Greg Vess, Mitch Vess, Jerry Vess, Jr. and Michael Jamison. The family suggest memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the Mountain Regional Hospice, Volunteers, P. O. Box 637, Clifton Forge 24422 or to the Central Advent Christian Church, 3515 Longdale Furnace Road, Clifton Forge, Va. 24422.

A special thank you to Marie Dudley and Carolyn Snyder and also to the staff at Alleghany Highlands Home Care.

The Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, is in charge of arrangements.