Rita Johnson

Rita Ann Ritter Johnson was born on July 16th1946 in Prairie Grove, Ark. Her parents, George and Maxine Ritter, took her home to Stilwell, Oklahoma where she lived and attended public school with her two brothers Bill and Ted. She attended Stilwell public schools from 1st grade through high school and was graduated in 1964. Rita was a very good student, played in the band, was a member of the student government, and several other student organizations.
Rita began dating a young Airman stationed at Shepard Air Force Base early her senior year. She dated Loyd Keith Johnson, when he came home to Westville, and married him August 18, 1964 the month after her 18th birthday.
The happy couple struggled with Air Force wages at Shepard AFB and Homestead, Florida. While serving their country, they had two children Debra Ann born in Stilwell in March of 1967 while Keith was in Ubon, Thailand. Bryan Keith arrived in August of 1968 while they were stationed at Homestead, Florida. They left the Air Force in July of 1970 and returned to Northeast Oklahoma. That fall, Keith attended NSU and Rita gave birth to their third child, Kevin Wayne, in Stilwell in November of 1970. The following semester Rita joined her husband in attending NSU and graduated in 1974 with a B.A. in Hospitality Tourism Management. Their next child arrived in September of 1981 and was named Major Brent. In August of 1986, the couple moved to Laredo, TX where they began their teaching career in the public school system.
Ritas last child to raise was Kayla Ann Johnson, Debbies daughter born in February of 1991. Kayla became Ritas daughter at the age of five as Debbie was battling MS and failing. Debbie fianally succumbed to the disease in 2006. When Kayla graduated from Keys High School, Rita had been raising children for fortythree continual years.
Rita excelled at everything she did including raising children, teaching, cooking, decorating, sewing, and many other hobbies and endeavors. She was also a talented writer and gifted painter. She touched the lives of hundreds of children in South Texas where she taught PreKinder, First Grade and ended her career as the Curriculum Coordinator for Poteet Independent School District.
Upon retiring in 2006, Rita returned to Keys, Oklahoma to live close to her mother Maxine Hembree. Rita had many, many friends who loved her dearly.
Ritas final resting place will be in the Stilwell City Cemetery beside her daughter Debra Ann and youngest son Major Brent who lost his life in an automobile accident in 2000 at the age of eighteen.
Ritas passing will leave a great void in the hearts of all who know her.

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Cemetery