Alberta Mildred Goans, 81, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, passed away from natural causes on Sunday, April 3, 2022 at Norterre in Liberty, Missouri.
She was born July 29, 1940, to her parents, Albert and Laurena Coffelt in Denton, Kansas.
She worked at Walmart and Food Barn in Excelsior Springs during the 1980’s, and many may know her by the nickname “Sam.” She had a wide variety of professions, including her own cleaning service before retirement.
She is known by her family and friends for her feisty sense of humor, her thoughtfulness and generosity, and her strength when facing many life challenges and hardships. Life didn’t deal her the best hand, but she made do and overcame each obstacle with hard work and her determined spirit.
Prior to and during retirement, her favorite way to spend time was with her three local grandchildren, Samantha, Coleman, and Jamin Petree. They brought her much needed joy and laughter, and she was their “partner in crime” as the years went by. In later years, she loved visiting with and spoiling four of her local great-grandchildren, Xander, Marshall, Nash, and Jude Osborn, as well as Benjamin Heil, who had become like another grandson to her during many years of babysitting and loving him. Those five little boys were very special to her, and she treasured any time she had with them. She was their “mema”, as she often got called that by them.
Surviving family members include daughter, Carollyn Shackelford, Nevada; son, Ronald (and Dorthy) Shackelford, Nevada; daughter, Laurie Shackelford, Washington; son, Shawn (and Angela) Petree, Missouri; and one sister, Debbie Temple of Atchison, Kansas. She was very blessed with 12 grandchildren and 22 great grandkids.
She was preceded in death by both parents; her son, Terry Shackelford; and her siblings, Oren Hearn, Betty Westmoreland, Wayne Coffelt, Larry Coffelt, “Chuck” Coffelt, and Elaine Hazlett, all of whom she has missed dearly and is finally reunited with in eternal peace.
Arrangements care of Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.
