Rita Taylor Johns' Obituary
Rita Taylor Johns, of Gainesville, Fl passed away Friday, September 21, 2018. She was born August 21, 1929 in Greenfield, Oklahoma. She recently celebrated her 89th birthday in style with a grand party surrounded by her family.
She grew up working in her parents, Joseph and Ruth VanLehn Taylor’s Produce and Feed Store and was a bookkeeper at the local cotton gin. She graduated Valedictorian of Greenfield High School in 1947 and attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, Oklahoma.
On August 4, 1950 she married Lester E. Johns who was serving in the United States Navy. Throughout his 20 years of active duty they were stationed from coast to coast and Puerto Rico. Being a military wife made her strong and independent. After retiring from the military they moved to Hurst, Texas where she worked as the supervisor of custom drapery and upholstery for Sanger Harris Department Store. In 1991, L.E. and Rita moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas and they began traveling again to see parts of the country that they had not seen.
After the death of her husband, in 1997 she moved to Gainesville to be close to family. She loved attending her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities and became an avid Gator fan of all sports. Rita volunteered at the Hope Lodge for many years and was a member of Greenhouse Church. She had been residing at the Atrium for the last year and a half and made many new friends there.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester E. Johns, sister, Cordia Hyle, two brothers, Eugene and Onis Taylor.
She is survived by daughters, Carletta Herring (Jim) and Marcella Senter (Todd); sister Vita Arndt (Dwayne) and sister-in-law, Janice Cole (Roy). Five grandchildren, Mark Herring (Melissa), Amy Johnson (Trevor), Adriane Peterson (Matthew), Taylor Leggett (Chris), and Chelsea Wimsatt. Eight great grandchildren, Jack-Ryan, Kaden, Addison, Carys, Layla, Sophie, Hayden and Rex.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, September 28, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME WESTAREA, 823 NW 143rd St. with Pastor Dave Matheny officiating. Interment will follow in Newnansville Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, September 27, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hope Lodge Gainesville, https://donate3.cancer.org/?campaign=hopelodgegainesville.
What’s your fondest memory of Rita?
What’s a lesson you learned from Rita?
Share a story where Rita's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Rita you’ll never forget.
How did Rita make you smile?