Alta attended school at Fairview School Alta Graham, daughter of J.G. “Cap” and Cina Melton (Marsh), was born Jan. 23, 1910, in Pond Fork, Mo. She departed this life Friday, March 23, 2007, in the Heart of the Ozarks Health Care Center, Ava, at the age of 97.
On Nov. 30, 1929, Alta was united in marriage to Theodore “Ted” Graham, and to this union, two sons were born.
Alta was preceded in death by her husband, Ted; her two sons, Verlin “Jim” and Joe Graham, a grandson, Richard Joe “Rick” Graham, and a great-great-grand¬daughter, Kelsie Stacy, as well as three sisters and two brothers.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Susie Graham, of Mans¬field; two granddaughters, Beverly Stewart and her husband, Butch, of Mountain Home, Ark., and Sandy Whitney and her husband, Bob, of Pleasant Hope; two great-grand¬children, Ryan Stacy and his wife, Melissa, and Amanda Stacy, all of Mansfield; three great-great-grand¬children, Michael Philips, of Ava, and Hunter Munden, and Hailey Stacy, both of Mansfield; and many other family and friends.
Alta attended school at Fairview School. She was a member of the General Baptist Church of Longrun. After she and Ted, whom she called “T.R.”, were married, they lived in the Longrun/Thornfield area where they reared their two sons. The family had an auction business and held numerous sales in the southwest Missouri area.
In 1955, they moved to Mansfield where they built and opened the Mansfield sale barn. Alta worked with her husband and kept the sale receipts for their business. They later sold the sale barn and moved to their farm on Highway 5. The couple had an auction barn at their home where many community auctions were held.
Alta loved to work outside. One of her greatest joys was her vege¬table garden. She also enjoyed canning the products of her labor. Flowers were very important to Alta; she took great pride in her flower garden and was always gen¬erous in sharing her plants and wis¬dom of her green thumb. The Afri¬can violet was her most favorite flower.
Alta enjoyed playing games with her grandkids and she took great pride in a spotless home. Alta also loved to sew and piece quilts.
In March 1987, Alta moved to Heart of the Ozarks Health Care Center, Ava. She leaves behind many friends and a truly loving, caring staff there.
Alta had a quick wit and an amazing sense of humor. She loved to make people smile. She espe¬cially enjoyed giving away her “pretties.”
Alta was a loving mother, mother-in-law, granny, aunt, neighbor and friend.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 26, at Holman-Howe Chapel, Mansfield, with the Revs. Danny Douglas and Tom Johnson officiating. Burial was in Mansfield Cemetery.
