Alta L. Mansfield

Alta L. Mansfield, 98, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, April1, 2014 at Oakdale Assisted Living of natural causes. She was a life-long resident of the Bay Springs, Pike Slough and Harviell areas in Butler County, except for a brief residency in St. Louis, Mo. Alta was one of 12 children born to the late Charles and Ivy Chatman. She was born Tuesday, June 1, 1915 in Bay Springs area. On February 11, 1933 she married William Frank Mansfield when she was 17 years old. She was saved when she was 18 years old and joined the Harviell First Southern Baptist Church in 1933 where she remained active in the Women's Missionary Union, children, and youth services until she experienced a stroke in 2008 and moved to Oakdale. Growing up Alta worked around the home and in timber with her family. She worked hard as a housewife and mother. She led a Christian lifestyle, and served in the children's ministry, family and home. She was a Sunday School Teacher-Vacation Bible School teacher, Department Director and in later years was known as the "Kitchen Lady" doling out snacks for Sunday School and Vacation Bible School children. In the 1950's when Frank was laid off, she worked as a cook in the Harviell School. When they briefly moved to St. Louis, she worked at Freeman Heel Company. There she made shoe and boot heels. She ran the nippers, the skiver and the grader. Upon returning from St. Louis, she returned to work as a cook at the Harviell School. She and Frank had four children. Frank and Alta shared 60 years, 10 months, and 16 days of marriage before Frank passed away on December 29, 1993. Alta most enjoyed time spent with her family and friends. She was a giving person and was always helping someone. She always had a smile on her face and lived life to the fullest. She was a good listener and an encourager. She was looked upto by many and often referred to as a "special lady". Before her stroke, she could readily be found humming or singing as she would get lost in the enjoyment of working in her yard, vegetable garden or flower beds. She enjoyed poetry, reading, sewing, embroidery and quilting. She worked as an RSVP volunteer and quilted with the Sho-me Senior Citizen Quilting Club. Alta was preceded in death by her parents, eleven brothers and sisters, her husband Frank and one daughter, Lorene Hays. Surviving children include: Julia Lee Ellen Womack ( and husband Don ) of West Plains, Mo.; Frank Junior Mansfield ( and wife Jeanine ) of Webster Groves, Mo. and William Joe Mansfield ( and wife Maxing ) of Poplar Bluff, Mo. She will also be sadly missed by her 11 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; 20 great-great grandchildren; nieces; nephews; cousins; many other relatives; her extended Oakdale family and numerous friends. Visitation will be Saturday from 11:00 AM to 12 PM at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral service will follow at 12 PM also in the chapel. The Rev. Bob Edwards and Tommy Knodell will officiate. Burial will be at Kinsey Cemetery.