Rita Thomas' Obituary
Rita Thomas, 91, of Longview, formerly of Daingerfield, passed away on Sunday, February 12, 2017, at her home in Longview. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. A family conducted memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Longview at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February 19, 2017. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. prior.
Rita was born on July 23, 1925, in Shreveport, LA to Victor and Rita Willis. She attended Byrd High School in Shreveport and graduated from Daingerfield High School. During her senior year, she met the love of her life, William C. Bill “Horsethief” Thomas, Jr. and they were married in 1943. She was a room mother for her girls several times, chaperoned many school functions with Bill and was a Campfire Leader. In the 60’s, she opened her own beauty shop and worked 10 years, then she became a Tupperware manager and sold for 10 years. Rita loved to cook, crochet, knit and read. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Longview, and was a former volunteer for the Historical Museum, LIHM and the Literary Council.
She was preceded in death by her husband; brother Sam and sisters, Olga and Sarah.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Roxie Allen and husband Mark, Becky Malone and husband Dan, and Vicki Scoggin and husband Rex; grandchildren, Robin Merritt, Christy Hart, Tripp Mackay, Mandy Wright, Mary Katherine Milam, and Thomas, Jeni and Lexi Scoggin; 7 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Doris Willis of Tyler; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Heather and all the friends at Evergreen Apartments for all their acts of love and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 of www.stjude.org.
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