Alta Faye Wunder Fales, 71, of Payette, Idaho, died June 28, 2008, at Holy Rosary Medical Center in Ontario surrounded by her family.
There will be a celebration of her life at 1 p.m., Saturday at the Payette Christian Church. The Rev. Ralph Pearson will officiate. Cremation and services are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette.
Alta was born on Aug. 6, 1936, in Baker City to Clive and Nina Payton Wunder. She lived at various mining towns in Baker County until she was 6 and her family moved to Baker City, where she grew up and met and fell blissfully in love with her high school sweetheart, David Fales.
Alta and David were married on April 7, 1952. The couple had four children. After moving several times over the next several years, Alta and David settled their family at Payette in 1962.
Alta was a stay-at-home mom who loved her kids. She took an active role in PTA and other school activities. She was the ultimate sports mom – she went to countless games of baseball, basketball, football, and track. Her kids always knew she would be there to support them and cheer them on.
The Fales house became a popular place to have fun at and everyone liked to come and hang out there, sit around the kitchen table and talk with “Mom Fales,” her family said. She had the gift of hospitality and everyone always felt comfortable in her home.
She spent many years participating on a women’s bowling league and thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of her teammates. She traveled to several Western states while bowling in different regional and state bowling tournaments.
Alta also loved books and was an avid reader. She was a prolific gardener; growing flowers and vegetables was her forte. She could tell you the name of most any flower. She was very fond of her Magnolia trees.
Alta enjoyed camping and outings with special friends and family. She delighted in going berry picking and in making jams, jellies, and huckleberry pancakes.
Alta’s love of family spilled over from her own children to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and going to Grandma’s was always a special treat. And there was nothing that Alta liked better than having large family gatherings with everyone home together around the kitchen table.
“All of us will deeply miss the woman who kept us together, who held us close in her arms and in her heart,” her family said.
Survivors include her loving and steadfast husband of 56 years, David Fales of Payette; sons, Ron Fales and Janet of Eagle River, Alaska, Russell Fales and Tammy of Portland, and Randy Fales of Payette; daughter, Rhonda Johnson and Ken of Payette; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Lela Bell, and Harold of Baker City; three nieces; and cousin, Mildred Wasson of Oregon City.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the American Heart Association through Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, ID 83661.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 2, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
