Alta Leona (Phelps) Branson, daughter of James Franklin "Frank" Phelps and Cordelia Rand. She was born in Osage County, Missouri and married Harry Branson. They divorced in the 1930's. She took back her maiden name, Phelps, but her son Kenneth had her married name, Branson, put on the tombstone.

When Harry Branson was 22, he married Alta Leona Phelps, 20, (also born in Osage County, Missouri), the daughter of James Franklin "Frank" Phelps and Cordelia Rand, on Sept. 11, 1918 in Linn, Osage County and they went on to become the parents of six children:

1. Kenneth Harry Branson,
Birth: Dec. 10, 1919
Death: Mar. 11, 1994

2. Pansy Evelyn (Branson) Farris

3. William Keith "Billy" Branson, who died at the age of 15 from the bite of a rabid dog.

4. Harold G. Branson,
Birth: May 21, 1925
Death: Jan. 19, 1991

5. Irvin Branson,

6. Rosemary, who died as a baby

Harry and Alta divorced in the 1930s, and even though Harry made attempts at reconciliation, it never happened.

They were still married on April 11, 1930, on the Census for Ash Grove, Boone Township, Greene County, Missouri, renting for $10/month, when Harry was a Truck Driver for the Shell Pipe Line:
Harry Branson 33
Alta L. Phelps Branson 31
Kenneth Branson 10
Pansy Branson 8
Wm K Branson 6
Harold Branson 5
Irvin Branson 2

On January 14, 1920, they were farming in Crawford, Osage County, Missouri.

On May 3, 1910, Alta was living on a farm in Crawford with her widowed mother, who had 5 living children from 6 births, her 4 siblings, and her dead father's widowed mother:
Cordelia (Rand) Phelps (Mrs. William Pleasant Abraham Hassler) 33
Nellie Phelps 15
Dana Phelps 14
Marvin Phelps 12
ALTA L. PHELPS 11
Ella Phelps 9
Dorcas Phelps 79 [78]

On the June 29, 1900 Census for Linn, Crawford (West Half) Township, Alta's parents were farming, and her widowed paternal grandmother, along with her father's cousin, were living with them [ALL Missouri, except Frank & Dorcas Phelps]. They were farming next door to widower, John N. Phelps, 60, & family (probably Frank's uncle):
Frank Phelps 33 MO/GA/TN (Nov 1866)
Cordelia Phelps 23 (Oct 1876), 4 of 5 births alive
Nellie E Phelps 5 (Jan 1895)
Dora E Phelps 4 (Jan 1896)
Marvin Phelps 2 (Jun 1897)
ALTA L PHELPS 1 (Sep 1898)
Grandma Dorcas Phelps 69 TN/TN/TN (Aug 1830), 5 of 9 births alive
Cousin Fannie F Rhoads 14 (May 1886), Farm Laborer

They have all passed away now.

The family was from Owensville in Gasconade County, Missouri.

When Pansy was born in Joplin, it would have been during a brief time when her father worked there.

Alta with three of her six children.
Left to Right:
Pansy, Harry, Alta, and Irvin Franklin Branson
circa early 1940s?

When Harry Branson was 22, he married Alta Leona Phelps, 20, (also born in Osage County, Missouri), the daughter of James Franklin "Frank" Phelps and Cordelia Rand, on Sept. 11, 1918 in Linn, Osage County and they went on to become the parents of six children:

1. Kenneth Harry Branson,
Birth: Dec. 10, 1919
Death: Mar. 11, 1994

2. Pansy Evelyn (Branson) Farris

3. William Keith "Billy" Branson, who died at the age of 15 from the bite of a rabid dog.

4. Harold G. Branson,
Birth: May 21, 1925
Death: Jan. 19, 1991

5. Irvin Franklin Branson,

6. Rosemary, who died as a baby

Harry and Alta divorced in the 1930s, and even though Harry made attempts at reconciliation, it never happened.

They were still married on April 11, 1930, on the Census for Ash Grove, Boone Township, Greene County, Missouri, renting for $10/month, when Harry was a Truck Driver for the Shell Pipe Line:
Harry Branson 33
Alta L. Phelps Branson 31
Kenneth Branson 10
Pansy Branson 8
Wm K Branson 6
Harold Branson 5
Irvin Branson 2

On January 14, 1920, they were farming in Crawford, Osage County, Missouri.

On May 3, 1910, Alta was living on a farm in Crawford with her widowed mother, who had 5 living children from 6 births, her 4 siblings, and her dead father's widowed mother:
Cordelia (Rand) Phelps (Mrs. William Pleasant Abraham Hassler) 33
Nellie Phelps 15
Dana Phelps 14
Marvin Phelps 12
ALTA L. PHELPS 11
Ella Phelps 9
Dorcas Phelps 79 [78]

On the June 29, 1900 Census for Linn, Crawford (West Half) Township, Alta's parents were farming, and her widowed paternal grandmother, along with her father's cousin, were living with them [ALL Missouri, except Frank & Dorcas Phelps]. They were farming next door to widower, John N. Phelps, 60, & family (probably Frank's uncle):
Frank Phelps 33 MO/GA/TN (Nov 1866)
Cordelia Phelps 23 (Oct 1876), 4 of 5 births alive
Nellie E Phelps 5 (Jan 1895)
Dora E Phelps 4 (Jan 1896)
Marvin Phelps 2 (Jun 1897)
ALTA L PHELPS 1 (Sep 1898)
Grandma Dorcas Phelps 69 TN/TN/TN (Aug 1830), 5 of 9 births alive
Cousin Fannie F Rhoads 14 (May 1886), Farm Laborer

They have all passed away now.

The family was from Owensville in Gasconade County, Missouri.

When Pansy was born in Joplin, it would have been during a brief time when her father worked there.

Alta Phelps Branson, daughter of James Franklin Phelps and Cordelia Rand.She was born in Osage County, Missouri and married Harry Branson. They divorced in the 1930's.She took back her name Phelps, but her son Kenneth had Branson put on the tombstone.