Alta May Ferren

Alta May Ferren, beloved mother, friend, and neighbor died Thursday, August 19, 2021 at age 96 at home in Maryland under her daughter's care. She was born in Estelline, SD on December 14, 1924 on a large farm, living through the Great Depression and Prohibition. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Valdo Davis and Mary Ann (Linneman) Davis, her sister, Janice Davis, her brother Valdo John Davis, and her eldest son, Douglas Benjamin Ferren, Jr (Deebe). Though divorced, she was preceded in death by her husband Douglas Benjamin Ferren also. Alta has three surviving children, Diane Elizabeth (Ferren) Meacham, Barry Clark Ferren, and Desiree Anne (Ferren) Sweet who live on the East Coast. She has three surviving grandchildren, Jeremiah (Sky) Ferren, Hari-lila Sweet, and Cintamani (Sweet) Rathinam. Alta played the flute and piano in her early years. She also took up the guitar later on in life. She won Jitterbug contests as a young person, and loved to dance. She enjoyed music immensely! She loved her dog Scallywags and all other dogs too! She enjoyed crossword puzzles and was quite good at them. She read the bible everyday, and prayed often. She was kind, patient, strong, and never gave up, even when the going was tough! She was a stalwart mother! We were all so lucky to have her as our mother! Her greatest joy was her kids, and her greatest sorrow was the death of Deebe, her son. Alta left the farm to go to business/secretarial school in Spokane, WA, while living with her aunt and uncle. She then moved with them to Minneapolis, MN. She worked for General Mills as a secretary. While there she happened into a US Air Force office. They told her they were looking for candidates to work at the newly, (still being built) Pentagon. She took the test and was given special top top secret clearance. She moved to Washington DC and worked as a secretary for the Air Force in the Pentagon as a civilian. Alta later changed jobs, becoming a manager of the court transcribers of the Superior Court of DC. After work, she would do freelance transcribing at home. She was always working! God Bless Her!! Alta had a great sense of humor too, and was equal to all she met. She seemed to see the best in all! She will be greatly missed!! Rest in peace, and dance in Heaven!!

Alta May Ferren

December 14, 1924 - August 19, 2021