Alta Joyce Bullington Sisson

Alta Joyce Bullington Sisson of Tyler died of a stroke at Hospice of East Texas on November 10, 2016 at 6:42 pm. Her family was gathered around her. After the family sang hymns with her Alta found peace and made her way home. She was born on December 7, 1929 in Pratt, Kansas; Pearl Harbor Day occurred on her 12th birthday in 1941.

Alta married Ralph Sisson August 5, 1949. They lived in California and Austin, Texas as a young family before moving to Ponca City, Oklahoma. They moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1970, and then retired in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Later in life they moved to Whitehouse, Texas to be near family. When Alta was no longer able to live alone she lived with the family of her daughter Kerrie Jo Sisson Hutchinson. Alta worked as a service representative at the phone company for 15 years, and spent the rest of her adult life as a homemaker who was very engaged in her church and community.

Alta loved the Lord and remained involved in the Church of Christ from her earliest childhood until her later years when her first stroke impeded her participation. She wrote several commentaries on the books of the Bible and spent much of her life teaching and debating with others about her knowledge of the Bible. She also engaged with her community by working as an Assistant Precinct Judge at her local polling place for several years.

She was happiest when she was with her siblings at family reunions and other gatherings. During these times many stories were told, and there was much laughter that delighted not only the family but the entire neighborhood in the days before air conditioning and closed windows. She adored her siblings and their children, as did her late husband, Ralph, and all of them traveled as often as possible to see each other.

Alta was an artistic woman and this showed up in different ways in her life. She painted with oils and there are several treasured paintings of hers in the family. Her love of decorating was displayed in their Sulphur Springs home which she decorated with taste and style in her favorite shades of purple. She excelled at quilting and spent many happy hours making quilted works of art. They included some very special quilts for the 9th birthdays of her nine grandchildren. In more recent years she and her daughter, Kerrie Jo, spent many hours making beautiful quilts.

Alta Joyce Bullington Sisson is preceded in death by her parents, Jennie and Amos Bullington, her husband, Ralph Sisson; siblings: Bartley Leon Bullington, Robert "Bob" Bullington, Arthur Bullington and Irene Bullington Stewart, and is survived by two loving sisters, Cheryl Mae Bullington Parker, and Emma Lou Bullington Logsdon. She leaves behind three children and their spouses, Grant Sisson and wife, Ann Sisson; Kellie Snider and husband, Richard Snider; and Kerrie Hutchinson and husband Kelly Hutchinson.

Also missing her greatly are her nine grandchildren, Jorge Sisson, Jon Sisson, Joshua Sisson, Amber Manuel, Jesse Snider, Micah Snider, Chelsea Hutchinson, Paul Hutchinson, David Hutchinson and five great grandchildren.

Alta"s burial will be at Whitehouse Cemetery on Memory Lane in a plot next to spouse Ralph Sisson who has been waiting with the light on since July of 2009 for his wife of nearly 60 years.

Pall Bearers will be grandsons Jorge Sisson, Joshua Sisson, Jesse Snider, Micah Snider, Paul Hutchinson, and David Hutchinson. Alternate pall bearers: son Grant Sisson, sons -in-law Kelly Hutchinson and Richard Snider, and friend Wayne Mosley. Honorary Pall Bearers are Jonathon Sisson, Amber Manuel, and Chelsea Hutchinson.

The funeral will be held on Monday, November 14, 2016 at 2:00pm with a viewing to begin one hour before the service.

In special memory of Alta, the family will be wearing shades of purple to her service and invite guests to celebrate her life with them in her special color if they so desire. Purple (representing the Pancreatic Cancer Association, as Ralph Sisson died of this), and red ribbons ( representing the American Stroke Association) will be provided at the service.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Hospice of East Texas out of gratitude for the exemplary and loving care with which they supported the family during Alta's final days, and in the last days of Ralph Sisson's life before her. We send them our deepest thanks for making the most difficult days of our lives a little more bearable. ( The Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701)

Extra flowers and plants from the service may be donated by the family to the Whitehouse Church of Christ or the Hospice of East Texas.

A graveside service will occur at the burial site at Whitehouse Cemetery at 401 Memory Lane, Whitehouse, Texas. All are invited to attend.

Following the service, dinner will be served at the Whitehouse Church of Christ, 1313 Main St., Whitehouse, Texas 75791.

We are most grateful to the Whitehouse Church of Christ for their funeral ministry and the meal.