A good friend to every one, a very sweet lady Alta Ellen Duckworth, daughter of Bake Henry and Amanda Ellen Jones Wheeler, was born April 24, 1916, in Toledo, Mo. She departed this life Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007, in her home in Seymour, at the age of 91 years, 6 months and 23 days.
On Sept. 2, 1933, Alta was united in marriage to Lawrence Joy Duckworth and to this union nine children were born.
Alta was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lawrence, on Dec. 26, 2005; a granddaughter, Deanna Duckworth; two sisters, Vesta Evans and Rita Stewart; as well as two sons-in-law, Jerry Julian and Ralph Rambo.
Alta is survived by her children, Anita DeArmond and her husband, Frank, Moletus Myers and her husband, Kenneth, Patsy Julian, Peggy Boring and her husband, Wilbur, JoAnn Rambo and her friend, Bill Crandall, Larry Duckworth and his wife, Wanda, and Joy Duckworth and his wife, Michelle, all of Seymour, Lawrence Duckworth Jr. and his wife, Rosalie, of Ozark, and Jalane Childress and her husband, Eddie, of Warsaw; 31 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and 21 great-great-grandchildren; two nieces, Frances Cox and her husband, Dick, of Springfield, and Betty Young, of Nixa; along with a host of other relatives and friends.
Alta spent her childhood years in the Pond Fork area and in 1950 she and Lawrence moved to Seymour to make their home. While living in Seymour, she worked on the family farm where she milked and helped to raise cattle. She also spent time working at the Brown Shoe Factory and at H.D. Lee. She retired from Head Orchards after working there for several years.
Alta was a good friend to every one and was known for being a very sweet lady. In her spare time, she enjoyed quilting, watching her chickens, squirrels and hummingbirds and tending to her flowers. She loved taking care of her grandchildren as well as cooking and had quite a large collection of recipes.
Services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, in Holman-Howe Funeral Home in Seymour with Dwight Ipock, David Duckworth and the Rev. John Claxton officiating. Burial was in the Seymour Masonic Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home.
