Rettia Crites

Rettia M. Crites, 82, of Daisy passed away Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Sept. 3, 1921, in Daisy, daughter of Phillip and Rebecca Propst Sebaugh. She and Alfred Crites were married Oct. 12, 1940. He passed away Oct. 1, 1993.

Since June, Rettia had lived at Heartland Care and Rehab in Cape Girardeau, but she was a lifelong resident of Daisy, where she and Alfred farmed many years. She also was a lifelong member of Sargent's Chapel Church and was a former Sunday school and vacation Bible school teacher. She was a member of Critesville Homemakers Club and cooked at the former Critesville School in Daisy.

Loving survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Doris Crites and Gale and Sandy Crites, all of Jackson; a daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Wayne Ludwig of Jackson; a daughter-in-law, Brenda Leimbach and husband Rusby of Jackson.

Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Tim Crites and wife Marlene of Jackson, Lisa Coleman of Jackson, Terry Crites of Belleville, Ill., Jeff and Andrea Crites of Jackson, Tammy Crites of Jackson, Julie Rushing and husband Todd, Amy Ramsey and husband Bill, all of Jackson; and nine great-grandchildren, Linda, April, Stephanie and Justin Crites, Colby and Brady Coleman, Colby Rushing, and Alyssa and Blake Ramsey.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Dale Crites, and a sister, Ocia Crites.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson, with the Rev. Albert Nyland officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Sargent's Chapel Cemetery Fund or the American Cancer Society.