Alma Musgrove, 78, transitioned from her earthly life to a home in heaven on Friday, October 24, 2008. She had been a resident of the Kansas Masonic Medical Pavilion since December 2006, when she and her husband, Bob, moved from their home of more than 40 years near Twin Lakes.
Alma was the youngest of seven children born to William and Anna Hackerott, who farmed near Natoma, Kansas. Alma graduated from Osborne High School in 1948 and was united in marriage to Bob Musgrove in Ashland, Kansas, in 1949. The couple moved back to Osborne where Alma worked for Attorney Dallas Cordel and gave birth to the couple's three children -- Anna Kathleen, in 1950; Laura Jean, 1954; and Robert Paul, 1957.
The Musgroves moved to north Wichita in 1961, began attending Parklane Assembly of God, and Alma gained employment at the Wichita Eagle and Beacon newspaper. Because of the church's closer proximity to their home, the Musgroves became involved at Glad Tidings Assembly of God, where Alma served as pastor's secretary for approximately seven years. She was then employed at Yale's Wedding Store on E. Douglas as a window decorator, wedding consultant and gift-wrapping expert. She shared her expertise as a wedding consultant in her local church and taught gift-wrapping classes to various groups.
In the mid-1970s, Alma became a State Civil Servant and worked in the registrar's office at Wichita State University. She later became a Federal Civil Servant and was a valued employee at the Internal Revenue Service and in the McConnell Air Force Base chapel, where she was known as "Miss Alma." When she retired in 1996, Alma enjoyed traveling with Bob to sightsee and visit friends in nearby states, playing with her grandchildren, gardening and assisting other friends who needed a helping hand with tasks and errands. The Musgroves also became active at Evangel Assembly of God and faithfully attended church until moving from their home.
Alma was preceded in death by her parents, William and Anna, and her siblings -- Ernest, Carl, Henry, Julius, Florence (Kreft) and Beulah (Larson).
Alma is survived by her husband Bob; her three children and their spouses -- Kathy and Dan Flynn, Laura and Arlice Davenport, and Robert and Connie Musgrove; three granddaughters -- Jennifer (Scott) Walker, and Loni and Abby Musgrove; two great-granddaughters -- Anna and Carly Walker; one great-grandson, Kyler Brewer; three step-grandaughters - Michelle (Colin) Heagler, Dawn Denny and Leslie Clayborn; and one step great-grandson, John Heagler.
Viewing and visitation with the family will be Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Old Mission Mortuary's Chapel of Memories, 3424 E. 21st Street, Wichita.
A Celebration of Alma's life will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2008, also at Old Mission Mortuary.
The family will then attend a private burial at White Chapel Memorial Gardens after the service.
Tributes and messages to the family may be shared on this Web site at the top of this obituary.
Two memorials have been established for anyone wishing to give a monetary gift in Alma's honor. Contributions may be given through the funeral home for the Wichita Children's Home, 810 N. Holyoke, Wichita, KS 67208, (Bridges Program) and Hospice Care of Kansas, 808 S. Hillside, Wichita, KS 67208, whose staff helped to care for Alma and support her family in her last weeks of life. Alma became an organ donor in an effort to help researchers more fully understand and find a cure for Alzheimer's Disease.
The family wishes to acknowledge and thank two special friends and care-givers, Sandra Carr and Paula Reader, and also the nurses, aides and many friends who lovingly looked after Alma during the final years of her life. May God bless you all.