Rita Burk

Rita L. Burk, 82, of Cape Girardeau passed away Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born March 31, 1930, in South Bend, Ind., to Robert W. and Rena Stewart Lillard. At the young age of 18, Rita married Marl Burk on Feb. 1, 1949.

Rita and Marl moved from Texas to Cape Girardeau in 1961. Rita worked several years at the former Thorngate Manufacturing in Cape Girardeau.

She was "all about her family." The only thing she enjoyed more than just being with them was getting to cook for them. In the mid-1990s, she even penned a cookbook, "Country Cooking with Rita Burk." In her spare time she liked to sew and crochet, and if it wasn't perfect she would un-do and re-do until it suited her critical eye.

Survivors include her loving husband of 63 years, Marl of Cape Girardeau; a son, Gary (Carol) Burk of Cape Girardeau; a grandson, Tyler (Moretta) Burk and their son Bryce of Jackson; two granddaughters, Tracy Burk of Wamego, Kan., Linsie (Blake) Pohlman and their children Shyleigh and Tatum of Jackson; a sister-in-law, Marlene Richardson of Gainesville, Texas; two nieces, Cathy (Chuck) Bezner of Gainesville, Carol (George) Cannon of Callisburg, Texas; and beloved family dog, Droopy.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Roberta Yount.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. to time of service Friday at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Don Estes officiating. Interment will be in Fairmount Cemetery.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.