Born on November 7, 1925 in Iantha Missouri, Alta was the daughter of Francis and Katie Gaston. She graduated from Mulberry High School, Kansas in 1943. In 1945 Alta married Vernon Cassatt and moved to California shortly after. Alta and Vernon were blessed with two children.
Many years later, and after Vernon’s death, Alta met and married Donald Bratton. Together, they shared over 40 years of marriage and a lifetime of memories.
Alta loved working with children and managed the Nazarene Church child care facility in Sacramento. Don and Alta built and ran several care facilities in the Sacramento area, including Alta’s Place, which was established in 1978. Alta loved her care home clients, often calling them her children. Alta was also a hard farmworker, and along side Don, they grew apples, almonds, and walnuts on their farmland. Alta was well known for her favorite food; anything someone else cooked!
Alta is survived by her husband Don, her children Michael [Jolene] and Mary, Don’s children Doug [Mindy], Sharon [Mike], Vickie [Keni], and Valerie, as well as 18 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Vernon, sisters Fern, Betty, Wanda, and brothers Leon, Joe, and Willard.
There will be a viewing Wednesday April 18, 2018 at 4 P.M. until 8 P.M. at Lakewood Funeral Home, 900 Santa Fe Ave Hughson CA 95326. Funeral Services will be Thursday April 19 at noon, at the Heritage Chapel, Lakewood Memorial Park with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers the family asks donations to be made in Alta’s name to either Cancer or Alzheimer’s research fund of their choice.
