Mary Ann "Muffy" Halstead of Hatfield, Pa., went home to be with her Lord and Savior Wednesday.

Born in Doylestown, Pa., Dec. 1, 1949, Muffy was the oldest daughter born to Philip and the late Bertha (Keely) Leber.

Muffy grew up in a Christian home with a great focus on world missions.

On Aug. 21, 1970, she married Everett Clair Halstead of Saxonburg, and they would have observed their 40th wedding anniversary next month. On that day, they began a journey that would include raising a family, changing careers, returning to school and realizing a dream.

Their dream came true in 2003 as they boarded a plane headed to Guinea, West Africa, where they would spend the next seven years learning a new language, culture and customs so they could be a part of spreading the gospel with New Tribes Mission.

This past March, when Muffy was diagnosed with terminal cancer, their new focus became being a living testimony to those at the hospitals and doctors' offices.

In addition to her husband and father, she is survived by her children, Jennifer and her husband Jason DeMarce and children, Tabetha and Ethen of Jackson, Mich.; Susan and her husband Dalton Dueck and children, Jessica, Caleb, Benjamin, Jacob and Jeremy of Jackson, Mich.; Pastor Steven Halstead his wife Andrea and children Dakota, Jayla, Madelyn, Aviya and Tobias of Williamsport, Pa.; and Thomas Halstead and his wife Kristin of Harleysville, Pa., expecting their first baby July 18. Also surviving are her siblings, Andy Leber, Sandy Labs, Cindy Moyer and Marty Wismer.

<B>HALSTEAD</B> — Relatives and friends of Mary Ann "Muffy" Halstead, who died Wednesday, July 14, 2010, are invited to attend her celebration service at 10 a.m. Saturday in Grace Bible Church, 423 Main St., Souderton, Montgomery County. Interment will be in the Limerick Garden of Memories. Friends may greet the family at the church between 7 and 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday.In lieu of flowers, donations, in memory of Mary Ann Halstead, may be made to the New Tribes Mission, 1000 E. First St., Sanford, FL 32771-1487.Arrangements are under the direction of <B>Huff & Lakjer</B>, Lansdale, Pa.