• Born: 24 August 1894, Noble, Richland County, Illinois, USA ³
• Marriage (1): Jay Tennen ALBERT on 22 December 1909 in Benton, Scott County, Missouri, USA ¹
• Marriage (2): Jess L. JOHNSTON on 19 October 1935 in Clay County, Arkansas, USA ^{2 3}
• Died: 30 October 1961, Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA at age 67 ³
• Buried: 1 November 1961, Illmo, Scott County, Missouri, USA ³

   Cause of her death was Myocardial infarction; acute coronary occlussion.³

   Other names for Alta were Alta L. ALBERT,² Mrs. Alta L. ALBERTS,⁵ Alta LaVerne JOHNSTON,³ Mrs. Jess JOHNSTON,^{6 7} Miss Alta LEE ¹ and Alta LaVerne PAYNE.

  General Notes

ALTA LAVERNE LEE was born 24 Aug 1894 in Noble, Richland County, Illinois, USA.  She was the illegitimate daughter of Frances Cleone Lee and an unknown father.  In the 1900 census, "Allie" appeared in her grandfather Thomas Lewis Lee's household in Noble, Illinois.  The following year, just a few days after her birthday, Alta gained a new stepfather — Arch Closson Payne.

The family remained in Noble, Illinois for a few years more, but they all moved to Scott County, Missouri sometime around 1907.

On 22 Dec 1909 in Benton, Scott County, Missouri, Alta married for the first time, to Jay Tennen Albert.  Like Allie, Jay was also born in Noble, Illinois (on 01 July 1889).  In fact, Jay was the nephew of Alta's stepfather Archie Payne. 

Newlyweds Jay and Allie appeared on the 1910 census in Reyno Township, Randolph County, Arkansas, USA.  In 1920, they were in Illmo, Scott County, Missouri, and in 1930 they were nearby in Fornfelt (now known as Scott City), Scott County, Missouri. The couple had three children together — a son, Walter, and two daughters, Georgia and LaVerne.  But after more than 20 years of marriage it ended in divorce sometime before Oct 1932.

Alta married again on 19 Oct 1935 in Clay County, Arkansas — this time to another divorcée, Jess L. Johnston.  Jess was born 27 April 1893 in Arkansas.  He had previously been married to Georgia Tucker, and was stepfather to Georgia's children Thelma McLane and John McLane. 

Although Alta and Jess married in Arkansas, they lived in the city of Cape Girardeau.  A few days after their 26th wedding anniversary, Alta had a heart attack.  She had been working as a cook for a public school cafeteria, but over the weekend, on Saturday, she suffered the heart attack and was rushed to SE Missouri Hospital.  After a stay of only 18 hours, she died at 8:20 pm on 30 Oct 1961 in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA.  On November first, Alta was buried in Lightner Cemetery.  Twelve years later, Jess also died and was buried next to her.

—  bio written by me for FindAGrave, 27 March 2012, kmh.

~~~~~~~

  Death Notes

8:20 pm at SE Missouri Hospital

  Burial Notes

Lightner Cemetery

  Recorded Events in Her Life

• She appeared on the census in 1910 in Reyno Township, Randolph County, Arkansas, USA.

• She appeared on the census in 1930 in Fornfelt, Scott County, Missouri, USA.

• She had a residence in 1931 in Fornfelt, Scott County, Missouri, USA. ⁵ now known as Scott City, Scott County, Missouri, USA

• She had a residence on 19 October 1935 in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA. ²

• She had a residence on 1 July 1955 in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA. ⁷

• She resided at 102 S. Henderson in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA on 28 August 1956. ⁶

• She resided at 102 S. Henderson in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA before 30 October 1961. ³

• She worked as a cook in a public school cafeteria before 30 October 1961 in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA. ³

• Her obituary was published in the Southeast Missourian on 31 October 1961 in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA.

• Her funeral was held by Bisplinghoff Funeral Home on 1 November 1961 in Illmo, Scott County, Missouri, USA. ³

Alta married Jay Tennen ALBERT, son of Charles L. ALBERT and Mary Nettie PAYNE, on 22 December 1909 in Benton, Scott County, Missouri, USA.¹ The marriage ended in divorce before October 1932. (Jay Tennen ALBERT was born on 1 July 1889 in Noble Township, Richland County, Illinois, USA ⁸ and died in Scott City, Scott County, Missouri, USA.)

Alta next married Jess L. JOHNSTON on 19 October 1935 in Clay County, Arkansas, USA.^{2 3} (Jess L. JOHNSTON was born on 27 April 1893 in Arkansas, USA,⁹ died in February 1974 in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA ⁹ and was buried in 1974 in Scott City, Scott County, Missouri, USA.)