Rita Tally

Rita Sue Tally, 75, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Mounds, Ill., died Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at Fountainbleau Lodge.

She was born May 24, 1933, in Cairo, Ill., daughter of Robert and Jeno Etheridge Parker. She married Jerry D. Tally, who died May 31, 1985.

Rita was valedictorian of Cairo High School Class of 1951. She was a professional investor 23 years with Illinois Department of Regulations, retiring in 1991.

She was very active in the Republican Party and had served as an electoral judge and a precinct chairwoman in Pulaski County several years. She had been a den mother and Sunday school teacher at First United Methodist Church in Mounds.

Rita was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Survivors include two sons and a daughter-in-law, David Tally of St. Louis, Dicky (Rhonda) Tally of Jonesboro, Ill.; a daughter and son-in-law, Mona and Craig Wells of Cape Girardeau; a brother, John Richard Parker of Kerrville, Texas; four grandchildren, Nicki (Justin) Graham, Ryan Tally, Kurt Wells and Kyle Wells; two great-grandchildren, Jacob Parker Graham and Logan Patrick Graham; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. to service time Saturday at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge, Ill.

The funeral will be at noon Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Kelly Cox officiating. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorials to Crohn's Colitis Foundation, National Processing Center, attention Honor and Memorial Gifts, P.O. Box 1245, Albert Lea, MN 56007-9976, in memory of Rita Sue Tally.