In Memory

Rita Forte (Reeves)

Rita Forte (Reeves)

Rita Gail Forte Reeves

Rita passed away peacefully on September 7, 2019 at Hendrick Medical Center with her family by her side.  Visitation will be Monday, September 9 from 6 PM until 8 PM, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.  Graveside services will be held at 10 AM on Tuesday, September 10, at Hawley Cemetery in Jones County with Pastor Larry Hooper officiating.

Rita was born on April 5, 1951 in Abilene, Texas to Garner and Johnnie Forte.  She attended Abilene High School where she graduate in 1969.  One of her fondest memories there was meeting her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Leroy Reeves.  She would always talk about how they were caught kissing in the hall by their teacher, Mrs. Weaver.  They had to stand beside each other in the principal's office, where he told them they were a cute couple.

Leroy and Rita married on December 21, 1968 before he left to serve in the U.S. Air Force.  She attended Mary Hardin School of Nursing in Abilene, where she received her LVN license.  Her passion was to become a nurse and take care of other people.  They lived in Bonte, Texas and Moran, Texas before making their home in Eldorado, Texas in 1979.  She then went on to attend Angelo State University where she earned her RN license and Associates Degree.  Rita was the Director of Nurses at Schleicher County Medical Center for several years.  She then started her own home health agency specializing in Geriatric and then Medically Fragile Kids.

Rita and Leroy moved to Clyde, Texas in 2005 to retire and be closer to their grandchildren.  She attended and was a very active member at Bible Baptis Church in Clude.  She loved going to cheer on all her grandchildren at any sporting event and was their biggest fan.



 
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09/09/19 01:29 AM #1    

Carol Kennedy (Hightower)

 

 

 

 

Rita will be missed by so many.  Her daughter, Stacy, has been diligent at keeping us posted on each challenge that Rita has faced.  We have prayed for Rita and her family.  

 

Eunice and Grady Narrell, Andrea Townsend and I tried to visit her during the reunion, but she was in dialysis.  All we could do was leave a note.  I really regret that we didn’t get to see her.

 

Rest In Peace, until we meet again.


09/10/19 02:14 AM #2    

Andrea Arauza (Townsend)

 A few weeks ago, while my mom was recuperating in the hospital from hip surgery, I dropped by to see Rita. We had a good visit remembering our Franklin Jr. High days. Since we both were in Mrs. Winstead's PE class, we were always getting into trouble, because of all the talking and joking we did. 

Rita talked about how grateful she was growing up in a good home with wonderful parents who loved her, and how precious her children and grandchildren are, and how much God had blessed her marriage with her Leroy.  Even though she could not make it to our reunion, and having just missed a visit with Carol Kennedy, Grady, Eunice, and me, she so appreciated that our class was thinking about her, and was praying for her. I will miss her contagious smile, how she loved to have crazy fun with her family, and how she expressed her deep relationship with her Lord. Praying peace and comfort for the Reeves family.


09/10/19 08:55 AM #3    

Cassie Foster (Jarrett)

Rita was my nurse when I had our last son in Eldorado. Her mother-in-law lived down the street from my mother. Several times we rode together back to Abilene to visit.

09/10/19 12:31 PM #4    

Paula Sosebee ((Pope) Carter)

Rita was such a caring and loving person, and so much fun...  I have so many memories of her from Franklin Junior High and Abilene High...  In my mind I always see her as she was in high school, with her bubbly personality and wit, and such beauty... she always reminded me of the singer Lulu who starred in the movie To Sir With Love, and sang the title song to actor Sidney Poitier... when I mentioned this to Rita, she said she had been told that by others also. Years ago, when our classmate Meta Odom Puckett was in Abilene after her mother had passed away, I was at the funeral home with Meta, when Rita walked in, neither of us had seen her in years, but I recognized her immediately as she walked over, we had a great visit with her. Meta has also passed away since that time...  I will miss keeping  up with Rita through Facebook as she and I had reconnected that way as many of us have.  I am saddened to lose another friend and 1969 AHS classmate. 

 

 

 

 


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