A memorial service for Della Mae Alford will be held at 10 am, Saturday, September 18, 2021 at Down's Funeral Home.

She was born on July 15, 1940 to Hubert Allen Burkart and Alice Marie (Johnson) Burkart in Dewey, OK. She passed away on September 8, 2021 in Shreveport, LA at the age of 81.

Della Mae, after graduating from high school attended Bartlesville Business College and worked as a secretary for Orville Myer's Real Estate Office. She married her high school sweetheart, Benny Alford.  Her experience of being in the real estate office paid off as they acquired rental property where her main job was doing the book work.  They later sold the rental properties and retired.  She remained very active doing the things she enjoyed with her family. Such as fishing in the backyard pond.  But don't think it was with a rod & reel…Della Mae fished with a coke bottle & line. She caught lots of fish that way & was very proud of her style of fishing. She also enjoyed her chickens, ducks & geese.

She loved and cherished her family. Among the normal motherly duties throughout her life, she was the official seamstress, daycare, cook, & house sitter.

She was very dedicated and active within the church. She taught Sunday School, held children's church, shared the cleaning responsibilities, and cooked every Friday for up to 30 people.  She was her pastor's "go to person". When she wasn't at the church you could find her at one of the multiple sewing/quilting groups she was involved in. Then several times a month she helped at the local food pantry.  She was known for making wallets to give away.  There's no telling how many thousands she's made through the years. Chances are most everyone here today has received one. Giving those out lifted her spirit as much as the person receiving them.

Della was Height challenged! She had many nicknames and always took them as the intended meaning of the endearment.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 60 years, Benny B. Alford. Infant daughter Pamela Joleen Alford, son Chris Duane Alford.  Two brothers Allen Leslie Burkart and Robert Loyd Burkart.

She's survived by two children, Kimberly Anne (Alford) Hanks and husband Cliff of Waskom, TX. Scott Lee Alford of Tuttle, OK. Surviving siblings are Patty (Burkart) Coyne of Peculiar, MO, Herbert Leon Burkart of Bartlesville, OK, George DeWayne Burkart of Bartlesville, OK, and Deloris Kay (Burkart) Harris of Pawhuska, OK. Six grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members.