Marcia Southard-Ritter

Marcia Southard-Ritter passed away Nov. 27, 2016. Marcia was a lifelong resident of Cape Girardeau. She was preceded in death by her parents, Katherine and Leebert Loyd.

Marcia was a 1960 graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School. Her education included a diploma in nursing from Jewish Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, a bachelor of arts in hospital administration from Saint Joseph College and a masters in science in health-care administration from Central Michigan University.

Marcia began her career in nursing at Southeast Hospital. She later worked for the Internal Medicine Group. In 1972, she began her extensive relationship with Saint Francis Medical Center that spanned 26 years. During this time, she held various positions, beginning as an ICU staff nurse, head nurse, director of Critical Care Services and eventually serving as vice president of patient care from 1982 to 1998. During this time, she also served on the adjunct faculty at Southeast Missouri College of Nursing from 1994 to 1998. It was during these years she began volunteering abroad with Doctors to the World Organization in Barbuda, Volunteers in Missions with the United Methodist Church in Mozambique and Liberia and Oakridge Clinic in Roatan, Honduras.

After retiring from Saint Francis, Marcia continued her medical career in the mission field with her husband, Dr. C. John Ritter. From 1998 through 2004, she served as the hospital administrator at the Ganta United Methodist Mission Station in Liberia. She also served as the spokesperson at Ganta United Methodist Hospital until 2004.

Being very civic-minded, Marcia was extremely involved in her community, serving two terms on the Cape Girardeau City Council beginning in 2002. She served as mayor pro tem and on the Vision 2020 advisory board, comprehensive city planning steering committee and the Cape Girardeau Area Magnet board.

Other community activities included Cape Girardeau County Mental Health Mill Tax Board, board of directors for Cape Girardeau Area Family Resource Center, Medical Reserve Corps U.S. Citizen Corps, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Cape Girardeau County Republican Women's Club, League of Women Voters, Zonta International, Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau planning and zoning committee and Saint Francis Medical Center Institutional Review Board. She was also active with the SEMO Chapter of the American Red Cross, where she served as a health-services volunteer, board vice president and president. As part of this service, Marcia traveled to New Orleans on a Hurricane Katrina Relief Team.

Marcia was a member of Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church and attended LaCroix Church.

She received numerous professional and civic honors, including Sigma Theta Tau National Nursing Honor Society, Missouri Nurse of the Year, diplomatic status with the American College of Healthcare Executives, Zonta International Woman of Achievement Award and Woman of Impact Award from the Otahki Council Girl Scouts of America.

She is survived by five children, Stephen (Julie) Southard and children Claire, Eli and S. Thomas, Benjamin (Tracy) Ritter, Daniel (Sara) and children Landon and Katelyn, Robin (Brad) Burger and children Christian, Alexis, Christina and Heather, and Emilie (Rick) Hamm and children Autumn, Hailey, Austin, Brandy and Keisha; brother, Robert (Linda) Loyd; sister, Marilyn Johnson; sister-in-law, Mary Sue (Steve) Nieman; eleven great-grandchildren; and two dear traveling companions, Jane Cox and Kay Waller.

Marcia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a grandson, Hunter Southard.

Memorials can be given to the SEMO Chapter American Red Cross or United Methodist Missions c/o LaCroix Church.

Visitation will be held beginning at 10 a.m. today, with funeral service at 1 p.m. at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home, with Dr. Bruce Baxter officiating.

Burial will follow at Hobbs Chapel Cemetery, Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be shared at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com