Rita Luker

Rita Luker, 87, of Purcell went home to be with the Lord, Sunday, May 19, 2013, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born July 28, 1925 in Savannah, Oklahoma. She was the oldest of four children born to Franklin Eugene Jones and Viola Victoria (Dement) Jones. Because Rita's family was sharecroppers, she lived in various towns throughout Oklahoma, California, Arizona, and Washington. At the age of 12 she met a classmate by the name of Bill Luker, and he vowed then that he was going to marry her. Both families moved many times over the next 8 years, but somehow Bill and Rita stayed in touch. In fact, they wrote back and forth while he was overseas. After Bill was discharged from the service on December 30, 1945, they were united in marriage on January 12, 1946 in McAlester, Oklahoma. Fourteen months later they headed to California to find work. They settled in Holtville, California, where they raised four children. After Bill retired in 1981, they moved back to Atoka, Oklahoma and lived there until they moved to Purcell in 1998 to be close to their children. Rita spent most of her days being a wife and mother, as well as a professional in-home seamstress for many influential families in the area. Her leisure time was spent making clothing for her children and grandchildren, needle pointing, quilting, painting, cooking, and babysitting her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was very involved in leadership of church activities, including teaching Sunday School, Director of the Missionettes girls' program, and was a Women's Missionary group leader. Music was a very important part of her life not only singing in various choirs, but also teaching her family the love of music. While living in Purcell, she was a member of Lighthouse Worship Center. She was preceded in death by: Parents: Frank and Viola Jones, One brother; David Jones, One sister; Ophelia Slagle, One son-in-law: Alan Keen, One granddaughter: Kristin Widner, She is survived by: Husband: Bill Luker of the home, Four children: Gene Luker and wife Marianne of Broken Arrow, OK, Gary Luker and wife Sandy of Holtville, CA. Sharon Widner and husband David of Purcell, OK, Joyce Keen of Norman, OK, One sister: Frankie Jane Morrow of El Cajon, CA, One sister-in-law: Josephine Sellers of Abilene, TX, One brother-in-law: Jim Luker of El Centro, CA, 9 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren Many nieces, nephews and a host of other loving relatives and friends. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Thursday, May 23, 2013 at Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel in Purcell. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell.

Rita Luker

July 28, 1925 - May 19, 2013