Alfred C. Treat

Alfred C. Treat was born July 24, 1929, the son of Arthur Rankin Treat and Ethel Gray Treat in Yampa, Colorado.  Following the crash of ‘29 Arthur moved his family from Big Flat, Arkansas to find work in Yampa, Colorado. It was a 9-day trip, and Alfred was born shortly after the move. When winter came, they moved to Arizona to work and then returned to Colorado for the next growing season. The family returned to Big Flat in 1930, but a pattern of entrepreneurship continued. Alfred’s dad moved the family nearly every year as he took government contracts, ran multiple businesses, cut timber, and built sawmills in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois. Alfred loved telling stories because of his full and happy childhood.  

His happiest story was a love story. Alfred married Rebecca Mae Myatt of Marshall, Arkansas on August 5, 1949, and at his death he had lived with his sweetheart for 69 years. Alfred became a Christian shortly after marrying his Rebecca. As he told the story, he thought he might not live long enough to get to the preacher’s house that day. Once there, he prayed to accept Christ as his savior on the front porch. Whenever someone he knew accepted Christ, Alfred would say, “That’s the most important thing you’ll ever do.”

Alfred and Rebecca had three daughters, Alicia, Mary, and Kathy. Everyone who knew Alfred knew how much he loved his girls. Even though work took him away from home a lot, Alfred celebrated their successes and supported everything the girls did. His happy childhood taught him how to make a happy home. Whether at home or traveling, they experienced much together over the years.  All three girls graduated from Baylor University, and another favorite pastime was watching football and basketball.

Four granddaughters, Joely, Kelly, Katie, and Mary Grace, were born in the 80’s and in the last decade he adored his eight great grandchildren. They lovingly called him either Grandpa or Papa Treat, and he loved seeing them more than anything. He showed them how to work puzzles and would talk like Donald Duck. Laughing and telling jokes entertained them all, and his smiles were the biggest when his kids were around.

Alfred always worked hard to provide for and take care of his family. He ventured out after his father’s death and drove for Continental Trailways and some trucking companies. In March of 1962, Alfred moved the family to Moore, Oklahoma to drive long distance hauls for Transcon Truck Lines, and he never changed jobs again.  They did however move some more.  In 1974 they built a house on a small fishing lake in Maud, Oklahoma. Then Transcon required Alfred to transfer to Atlanta, Georgia in 1980 where he and Rebecca enjoyed his short runs until his retirement in 1986. The Treats moved back to their home in Maud and enjoyed retirement until 2008 when they moved to Branson, Missouri.

But the story isn’t over without sharing what Alfred called the best years. During retirement, Alfred and Rebecca started another adventure. After contacting the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, they became actively involved in volunteer mission work. Working in dozens of locations in many states. The Treats spent up to six months each year working on construction projects, youth and children’s work, cooking, hauling goods and people, feeding and clothing ministries, camps, and encouraging churches/people in struggling areas. The friendships and memories made enriched their lives in ways they had never expected, and God blessed them with health to work twenty years past retirement.

The Treats felt led to downsize and move to Branson, and First Baptist Church of Branson became the center of life for the Treats.  As they became more restricted, their church family actively embraced them more, and that’s why Alfred’s funeral service will be at his church “home” Monday, October 22.

Alfred Treat worked hard at building a life and building a family. He trusted the Lord and served him all the days of his life. What greater legacy could be left for his family than to remember his life and words. With both, he showed us he loves us “very, very much.” Because of Jesus, family and friends now await the day we will each, by faith in the God of our father, see Alfred again at the feet of Jesus.  We expect Alfred to laugh and welcome us with tears of joy! Oh, how rich we are.

Visitation will start at 1:00 P.M. at the First Baptist Church in Branson, Monday, October 22, 2018.  Services will follow at 2:00 P.M. in the church with burial after in Ozarks Memorial Park Cemetery, Branson.  Arrangements were under the direction of Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home and Crematory.

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