Rita Grace Schofield, 83

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On May 7, 2018 our sweet wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend Rita Grace Schofield, passed away at age 83. Rita was born on Jan. 28, 1935 to Carl and Elizabeth Siegrist in Meadville, Pennsylvania. In 1955 she began her 62 years of marriage to the love of her life, Francis Jewel Schofield. Shortly after they married she graduated from Meadville City Hospital School of Nursing and then journeyed to Globe, Arizona. It was here they created a place their children and grandchildren would call home. Rita served in the community as a registered nurse at Gila General Hospital until 1964, but her service didn’t stop there.

She was always one to go the extra mile remembering all her family members and friend’s birthdays and anniversaries with calls, gifts and loving cards. Family was her priority; she never missed an important celebration, dinner or sporting event. Rita would mend a rip in your trousers or knit a blanket for your baby without thinking twice. Her loving talent will carry on with baby blankets she made and set aside for her future great-grand babies. Her priority to serve shined greatly in her marriage.

Old age didn’t stop her from making sure her husband was taken care of from organizing his medications to making sure he always had something to eat. The love Rita and Jewel shared is something beautiful and others can’t help but smile at. Rita was always so proud of her cherished grandchildren and loved sharing stories of them with her friends. You could always count on Rita capturing the moment with her camera and displaying those loving memories in her home. Her home was always decorated for the current holiday and brought many smiles and happy memories to her visitors, especially around Christmas. Her home was also a place where she displayed the dolls, magnets and other treasures she’s collected over the years. Rita loved to read and often could be found curled up on the couch with a romance novel.

While Rita created a home of love she also knew how to get her hands dirty whether it was slaying a 10-foot rattle snake, saving bunnies from the cat, fishing out at Roosevelt Lake or planting Irises. Most of all we will remember our Rita as one who gave more than she received, was always prepared and made sure those around her were taken care of.

Rita is preceded in death by both her parents, Carl and Elizabeth (Betty) Siegrist, sisters Gladys Siegrist and Carol Grinnell. Rita is survived by her beloved husband, Francis Schofield; son, Francis (Buddy), his wife Margaret and daughter Virginia (Chad) Mounce; grandchildren, Julia (Zac) McBride, Katherine (Damon) Valencia, Jacob (Sarah) Mounce and Zane Mounce, great-grandchildren, Holland and Emery McBride; brother, Chuck Siegrist and sisters Mary Lou Blose-Rossi, Trudy Heck, JoAnn Merchbaker, Betty Jane Hulbert and sister-in-law Dru (Jim) Handy. Countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends also survive her. We all will love you, and we will carry you in our hearts forever.

At this time no services will be held. Condolences may be sent to 645 N. Sutherland St., Globe, Arizona 85501.