Obituary: Alta M. Harsh Seals

Daily Iowegian - 20 January 1995

--------------------------------

  Alta M. Seals, 85, of Boonville, Mo., formerly of Centerville died Thursday, Jan. 19, 1995, at the Colony Garden Nursing Home in Boonville.

  She was born Dec. 30, 1909, in Ringgold County, the daughter of Claude and Edith (Clayton) Harsh. 

  She married Harry (Otis) Seals May 6, 1934, near Exline. He preceded her in death June 12, 1982.

  Survivors include two sons, Richard Seals of Boonville, Mo., and Norman Seals of Aberdeen, Wash.; three grandchildren; and two sisters, Wilma Taylor of Bloomfield and Viola McWilliams of Bettendorf.

  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and three sisters, Neva Parcel, Ada Harsh and Gladys Parcel.

  She was a cook and housekeeper for a nursing home and a homemaker.  She was a member of the Methodist Church.

  Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Lange Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery in Mystic.  An open visitation will be held.

  A memorial to the Jerome Methodist Church has been established and may be left at the funeral home. 

------------------------------

  Mildred Dooley Cathcart in her column, Visiting with Neighbors, wrote on 27 January 1995:

  We were sorry to learn of the death of Alta Seals last week. She and Otis and their sons lived on a farm east of Jerome for several years.  The house had been formerly occupied by Edith and Harry Stickler and now the Byron Felkners own the farm.  Alta became a member of the club and was a faithful member and very seldom missed a meeting.  I remember when she lived east of town, she often made huge, fluffy donuts for part of her club refreshments.

  About two and a half years ago Alta could no longer live alone so her son, Richard, took her to a care center in Boonsville (sic), Mo., to be near him and his family.  Sue worked at the care center so Alta was not among strangers.  When Alta was able to enjoy mail, we would bring a card when we had our monthly meeting and we would write a little note to Alta and we would remember her birthdays and holidays.  She was a kind, caring person and her family and friends will miss her.

  Alta's funeral was not until 3:30 Saturday and then the burial was at Highland Cemetery in Mystic.  I don't think there is any place more dreary and miserable than a cemetery in bad weather.  It can be the coldest place in winter and the hottest in summer.

  Patty and Bert Murphy were at Alta's funeral and I was happy to have a short visit with them. They are a striking looking couple.  Bertie lamented to me that he would be 60 years old on his birthday.  I told him to wait until he is my age and he would think just being 60 was like being a spring chicken. He and Patty have a granddaughter name Rachel, too.  They enjoyed a visit back east and thoroughly enjoyed being let alone with complete charge of the little girl.