Rita Mae (Howell) Cox
Rita Mae (Howell) Cox, age 86, died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at her home in Lee’s Summit, MO.
Rita was born Oct. 13, 1929, in Mirabile, to Madge and Eldon Howell. She graduated from Polo High School and the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, where she earned a master’s degree in education. She taught elementary school for many years in Caldwell County, Missouri, and retired from Polo Public School Systems in 1985. She married A.J. Cox in 1952. She was a member of the Polo United Methodist Church. Upon retirement, they loved attend basketball games and travel. She made beautiful quilts and loved to read, work crossword puzzles, and root for her beloved Mizzou Tigers.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; one still born son; and her brother, James Howell.
She leaves two daughters, Sue (Anthony) DiMartino of Grain Valley and Ann (Rick) Weigel of Lee’s Summit; five grandchildren, Tony, Angela, and Victor DiMartino, and Shay and Lance Weigel; two sisters-in-law, Virginia Howell of Kingston and Edith Jane Cox of Smithville; many nieces and nephews, cousins, classmates, friends, and former students.
A visitation will be held Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., at the Polo United Methodist Church, with funeral services immediately following at 3:00 p.m. Interment will be held at Cowgill Cemetery in Cowgill. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Polo United Methodist Church. Service to the family and arrangements are under the direction of Stith Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Polo.
(paid obituary)
