January 1946

Alva Curtis Puckett, sixth son of Pleasant and Catherine Vaughn Puckett, was born in Wayne County, Illinois on September 23, 1852.

He attended the rural schools of the neighborhood and later worked in general stores at Burnt Prairie. Early in life he joined the Frame (Christian) Church and later transferred his membership to the First Christian Church of Fairfield. He was active in church affairs until a few years before his death.

In 1880 he was graduated from medical school in Cincinnati, Ohio and began practicing in Burnt Prairie, Illinois.

One year later, in November, 1881, he was married to Lucinda Frances Stuart and to this marriage were born three children; Edith Pearl, Roscoe and Pleasant Jones Puckett. The two sons died before reaching maturity and his wife Frances, passed away in the eighth year of their marriage. He later married Martha Beaver of Westminster, Maryland who also preceded him in death.

Dr. Puckett served unstintingly the communities of Northern White and Southern Wayne Counties. For 35 years the tall, quite spoken doctor was a familiar sight as he traveled to ease pain and fight disease. No call came so late nor entailed a trip so hard but that he responded.

In 1916, retiring from active practice, he moved to Fairfield. However, he did carry on a limited practice for several years. In 1938 he was honored by the State of Illinois and the Wayne County Medical Societies for fifty years of service in his profession.

The last few years of his life were spent quietly at his home in Fairfield. He passed away after a short illness on January 28, 1946. He leavesone daughter, Mrs. Pearl Borah, one grandson, Alvah C. Borah, of Evansville, Indiana, and many neices and nephews.