Rita Marguerite (Scheurich) Moyer, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend to many, passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, at the age of 94. She was born April 6, 1922 in Joplin, Missouri to James and Adolphine Scheurich. She grew up in Joplin and graduated from St. Peter's Catholic High School where she met and later married her husband of 39 years, Ben M. Moyer, Sr.
A resident of Bartlesville, Oklahoma for 20 years, Rita worked at St. John's Catholic School as a cook and cafeteria manager. After moving to Tulsa in 1963, she worked for the Tulsa Public Schools, beginning at the Education Service Center cafeteria, then as a cook and cafeteria manager at Lynn Lane, Jackson, and McClure elementary schools and finally, Memorial High School. She retired in 1982.
Rita's life was filled with love, laughter, lifelong friends, and a special devotion to her family who surrounded and adored her. She was a member of Church of the Resurrection Catholic church. She enjoyed line dancing, sewing, reading, puzzles, walking at LaFortune Park and exercising with friends at the Thornton YMCA. She was generous, kind, and patient, and will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to have known her. She leaves behind a beautiful bouquet of memories that will stay in our hearts forever.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents, James and Adolphine Scheurich, her husband, Ben M. Moyer, Sr., her sisters, Catherine Staed and Rosalie Prince, her brothers, James Scheurich and Raymond Scheurich. She is survived by three sons, Ben Moyer, Jr. and wife, Peggy of Tulsa, OK, Bill Moyer and wife, Sue of Hutchinson, KS, Bob Moyer and wife, Kate of Tulsa, OK, and one daughter, Mary Bosworth and husband, Tony of Lindale, TX.
Also surviving her are 12 grandchildren, Steve Moyer and wife Karol, Sheri Francis and husband Mike, Richard Moyer, David Moyer and wife Amy, Michael Moyer and wife Heather, Steven Moyer and wife Jeanne, Christy Taylor and husband Cary, Lori Coughlin and husband Kevin, Suzy Iliff and husband Charles, Shelley Johnson and husband Peter, Scott Bosworth and wife Michele, Stacey McCurley and husband Robert, and 28 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, February 12, at Moore Funeral Home - Southlawn Chapel, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa. Funeral Mass is 9:30 a.m. Monday, February 13, at Church of the Resurrection, 4804 S. Fulton, Tulsa, with Father Bill Hammill officiating. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Joplin Area Catholic Schools in care of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary, 602 S. Byers Ave., Joplin. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri with local assistance of Moore Funeral Home - Southlawn Chapel.