In Loving Memory of Aletta Belle Essary
June 18, 1936 – June 18, 2025

Our beloved mother, Aletta Belle Essary, peacefully went home to be with her Heavenly Father and her cherished husband, Guy Essary, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025—her 89th birthday. In God’s perfect timing, she received the most precious gift of all: eternal rest, free from sorrow, worry, or pain.

Aletta was born on June 18, 1936, in Ripley County, Missouri, to Andrew Jackson and Annie Isabelle (Perrin) Bozarth. One of eight children, she was raised on a farm and often shared joyful stories of her childhood, especially the days spent in the fields picking strawberries and cotton alongside her family.

A natural musician, Aletta inherited her talent from her father and shared it with several siblings. She was a gifted guitarist and singer—how she loved to sing! With her dad on the fiddle or banjo, their home would come alive with music parties as neighbors gathered on weekends for what could only be called real-life country jubilees.

At age 12, her family moved to Springfield, Missouri, after her father retired from farming. It was there that her brother Clay’s best friend, a boy named Guyal “Guy” Essary, began to spend a lot of time at their home—not just for Clay, but because he had fallen for Aletta. Their love story soon began, and the rest was history.

Guy and Aletta eloped on October 18, 1951, in Harrison, Arkansas. In 1952, Guy enlisted in the U.S. Navy, alongside Clay.  Aletta joined him at his duty stations in California and Florida during his service.

Their first child, Rhonda Joyce, was born in 1956. Due to Rhonda’s health needs, Guy received an honorable release from active duty to support Aletta in raising their special daughter. Aletta devoted herself fully to motherhood, raising Rhonda with unwavering love. Her heart for children led her and Guy to grow their family with three more children over the years: Kenneth Mark, Brenda Elaine, and Teresa Carolyn.

Aletta was a devoted homemaker and mother.

As her children grew older, Aletta found herself missing the joy of caring for little ones. So, she poured her heart into babysitting and helping to raise many children over the years, offering them the same love, nurture, and patience she gave her own—this was her gift and passion.

Aletta’s parents raised her as a devoted Christian. She was baptized at age 12 and remained a steadfast Christian throughout her life. Aletta and Guy were faithful members of several Church of Christ congregations in the Springfield area, including West and Lincoln, Broadway and Madison, North National, Sunset, and most recently, Union Hill Church of Christ in Nixa, where she attended with her daughter, Teresa.

In her quiet moments, she loved reading God’s word, studying history, diving into romance novels, and crocheting beautiful doilies, baby blankets, and Afghans for loved ones.

Aletta also had one very well-known and much-loved gift: the gift of gab! If she called, you knew to take a seat—she had talking-stamina like no other. She cherished visiting with friends and family over the phone, and Guy always made sure she had the best long-distance plan available to keep those lines humming.

More than anything, Aletta loved her family. She was proud of each of her children and absolutely lit up when talking about her grandchildren: Jessica, Lauren, Jordan, Abby, Tori, and Taylor. She remembered everyone’s birthdays—literally everyone! Parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, neighbors, and friends alike. Her love was sincere, detailed, and boundless.

Aletta was preceded in death by her loving husband, Guy Kenneth Essary; her parents, Andrew Jackson Bozarth and Annie Isabelle (Perrin) Bozarth; and six siblings: Everett Bozarth, Mary Ethel Cecil, Clara Nettles, Lucille White, William Clay Bozarth, and Laura Jane Hodge.

Aletta is survived by her four children: Rhonda Essary, Ken Essary (wife, Cindy Essary), Brenda Essary, and Teresa Essary-Witt (husband, Patrick Witt); six grandchildren: Jessica Nicole Essary (husband, Sean Babineau), Lauren Mills (husband, Sherman Mills), Jordan Essary (wife, Tracey Essary), Abby McCarty (husband, Chris McCarty), Tori Cannefax, and Taylor Essary; six great-grandchildren: Harlan Wilson, Guyal Octave Eure Babineau, Saylor Mills, Olaus Birch Eure Babineau, Beckett Mills, and August McCarty; and one sibling, Anna Sue Watson.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the caregivers at The Waterford at Ironbridge and Hopedale Cottage Assisted Living for their loving support.

Aletta’s visitation will be held on Thursday, June 26, at 10:00 a.m. CDT, with the service to follow at 11:00 a.m. at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, located at 3540 E. Seminole, Springfield, MO 65809. Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, located at 5201 S. Southwood Rd., Springfield, MO 65804.

Aletta leaves behind a legacy of family, faith, love, laughter, and music.  She touched countless lives and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.