The Legacy of a Great Woman

Alta Virginia Elizabeth Huffman

February 24, 1917 – June 12, 2009

Alta Virginia Elizabeth Huffman was born February 24, 1917, in Buckhorn, Missouri to James Washington Huffman and Eva Caroline Henson Huffman. Alta was the oldest of nine children.

Alta married Ted Sylvester Matthews on September 12, 1935, and two daughters were born to this union: Sylvia Virginia and Carol Joyce.

Alta enjoyed quilting and gardening. She also enjoyed creative writing and penned a number of plays, skits, and poems commemorating special events in her church and community. In addition to helping her husband on the farm, Alta worked at The Trimfoot Company until her retirement. She was a member of Mine La Motte Free Will Baptist Church for eighty years, where she served as the church clerk and treasurer for a number of years, and as a Sunday School teacher for more than 60 years.

Alta Matthews passed away on June 12, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Matthews, her parents, (Jim and Eva Huffman) four brothers: Raymond, Homer, Truman and Richard Huffman, all of Missouri, and one sister, Blanche (Mrs. Woodrow Matthews) of Guin, Alabama, and one son-in-law, Bob Warner, of Mine La Motte. She is survived by one brother, Abe Huffman, of Fredericktown, and two sisters, Anna Lee Rebella of Nevis, Minnesota, and Joyce Lundsford of Fredericktown.

Alta is also survived by her two daughters, Sylvia (Mrs. Larry Finch) of Mine La Motte, and Carol (Mrs. Charles Belken) of Libertyville.

Nine grandchildren also survive:

Tamera (and Roger) Durbin of Farmington

Robert (and Donna) Warner of Mine La Motte

Wayne (and Christy) Warner of Mine La Motte

Michael (and Cyndi) Belken of Libertyville

Barbara (and Richard) Standley of Flagstaff, Arizona

Timothy (and Mary) Belken of Libertyville

Mark (and Mary) Belken of Libertyville

April Finch of Mine La Motte

and Chris Finch of Mine La Motte
Alta loved to boast of her 19 great grandchildren:

Andrea, Rachel, Benjamin, Seth

Tabitha, Owen

Caleb, Jennifer

Isaac

Daniel, Nathan, Robert, Garrett

Jonathon, Kristopher, Megann, Dalton

Marcus and Lucas
And of her 8 great, great grandchildren:

Trevor, Taylor, Nolan, Evan, Brylee, Hallee, Jackson and Walker.

Alta Matthews was a “Proverbs 31” woman. She took care of her husband and family. She served the Lord every day of her life. Her two children, nine grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and eight great great grandchildren can be found in church on any given Sunday. They and their spouses include pastors, missionaries, deacons, Sunday school teachers, worship leaders, children’s ministry workers, church staff and lay leaders. They are her legacy and the mark of a great woman.