She was born on January 12, 1931 in Linn Creek, Missouri to Ray and Abbie Wallis Anderson. In 1949, she graduated from Camdenton High School. Alma was married to Clayton Eugene Caviness on February 12, 1952 and to this marriage was born three children whom she would later struggle to raise alone. She enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren very much. Alma spent most of her life giving and caring for others in her work as a nursing assistant and in her personal life as well. She moved to Iowa to live with her daughter due to her struggle with multiple heath problems. She is survived by her companion of 22 years, Glenn Rogers of Montreal, Missouri; her two daughters, Nelda Carpenter of New Sharon, Iowa and Nedra Overby of Excelsior Springs, Missouri; one son, Charles Caviness of the lake area in Missouri; nine grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; one brother, Leon Anderson of Odessa, Missouri; and one sister, Janice Lynch of Valley Lee, Maryland. She was preceded in death by her parents.