Alta Lorea Lunsford

Alta Lunsford, 97, passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at her home north of Guymon.

The daughter of Elizabeth (Stober) and John Johnson, she was born February 6, 1911 in LaPlata, Missouri. The Johnson family pioneered to the area in 1917, settling 30 miles northwest of Hooker near the Kansas line. Young Alta worked in the fields and attended Pleasant Plains country school. She was united in marriage to Pete Lunsford from a neighboring farm, on October 12, 1930. While many people left this country in the 1930's, Pete and Alta stayed and built their family and farm. They worked side by side and enjoyed one another as husband and wife, best friends, square dancing partners, as well as partners in their farming business. They traveled much of the country calling square dances and later they enjoyed just traveling. They were members of Morning Star United Methodist Church. Pete passed away in 1977.

Alta volunteered for the Memorial Hospital of Texas County Auxiliary and was honored as the Pioneer Day Queen for the Guymon Centennial Year of 2001. A true pioneer of the area, in her 97 years, Alta had experienced many changes, hard times and good times, but all of these she did with her love of family, courage, and humor. She had more recently been a member of Victory Memorial United Methodist Church in Guymon.

Survivors include her son, Raymon (Chub) Lunsford and wife, Pat of the Hough community; a sister, Faye Lunsford of Guymon; five grandchildren, Jackie and husband, Bill Elicker of Oklahoma City; Sheila and husband, Ted Ikeler of Keyes, OK; Eddie Ray Gloden of Oklahoma City; Kenny Lunsford and wife, Roberta; Kim and husband, Andy Falls; all of Guymon. She is also survived by great grandchildren, Jamie and Barry Gloden, Rachael and Steven Ritter; Trevor Ikeler; Kayla and Kyler Lunsford; Kara and Kylie Falls; and three great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, seven sisters and brothers, Ollie, Alva, Bill, Dellora, Viola, Ralph and Jay, her daughter, Barbara Romain Lunsford Gloden; and son-in-law, Jack Gloden.

Memorial services will be Tuesday afternoon, December 23, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. at Victory Memorial United Methodist Church, Guymon with Rev. Barry Bennett, associate pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Elmhurst Cemetery under the direction of Henson-Novak Funeral Directors of Guymon.

Visitation will be Monday, December 22nd from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Memorials may be given to Morning Star United Methodist Church or MHTC Auxiliary, c/o Henson-Novak Funeral Directors, P.O. Box 1306, Guymon, OK 73942.