Alta Seal-Reiff

Alta Seal-Reiff died peacefully at her home in the Harvest Hills Community in Independence, Missouri on Friday, February 9, 2018 and returned to her beloved Heavenly Father. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri on April 13, 1923 to Julian and Alta Madison Warnock. She was baptized at age 10 and attended the Columbian and Bryant elementary schools through the sixth grade. Her family moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma and then to Salt Lake City and then to Merced, California. She graduated from San Diego High School in 1941. She met and married Earl D. Seal on August 18, 1941. She and Earl, an officer in the military, moved many times during World War II. Alta had two sons, E. David Seal and J. Michael Seal, born in 1942 and 1946, respectively. She moved back to Independence and began working for the World RLDS Church when her sons were in high school. She attended the Gudgell Park Congregation of the RLDS Church (later the Community of Christ Church). She then worked for Herald House for 24 years, and was tasked with creating art work of all types for the Church; she also directed plays. Alta was extremely talented. She had many Herald House and Church friends, and was respected as a proficient artist and art teacher. She painted landscapes and portraits, working with oils, chalks and other mediums. Of note is a beautiful, large painting of Jesus Christ located at the Community of Christ, Oak Hill Congregation. Her talent blessed many, and her work adorns homes, Church congregations, and the Community of Christ Temple. Later Alta began dating Arvin Reiff of Independence, Missouri and after a short courtship was married in 1998. Both had strong ties to the Community of Christ church. They made their home at Harvest Hills and were active in the Oak Hill Congregation. Both were ordained and held the office of Elder. They served God and the Church together in their offices, presiding over services and praying for the needs of others. Alta attended services regularly and enjoyed attending Church functions, summer reunions, and World Church conferences. They lived happily together in retirement until Arvin’s death in 2016. Arvin and both of her sons David and Michael preceded Alta in death. Alta’s surviving grandchildren from David are David A. Seal, Remi Gibson, and Darin Seal, and her surviving grandchildren from Michael are Deborah Petschel and Nicole Menendez. Alta is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Corvus, Ella, Dillon, Carly, Cole and Carmen, along with her nephew Tony Chapman of Needles, California and Mary Seal and Linda L. Seal, surviving wives of her sons Michael and David, respectively. Alta was also close with members of Arvin’s family, including Tom and Misty Reiff and their daughter Kristin, Steve and Delores Reiff, Kenneth Thornton and his daughters Ashley and Allyson. All of the members of the Oak Hill Congregation can be counted as her special friends. She had other friends and relatives too numerous to mention. Alta will be missed by all that knew her. Alta’s favorite prayer was: “God, send me where I am needed the most”. She lived out that prayer. Alta’s desire was to be sent to reunite in Heaven with all of those whom she knew and loved.