Obituary of Rita Mae Hargett

Rita Mae Hargett, age 76, of Port Edwards, passed away Monday, January 22, 2018 at Edgewater Haven Nursing Home in Port Edwards.

The Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at St. Alexander Catholic Church in Port Edwards.  Father John Swing will officiate.  Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.  Family and friends are invited to a time of visitation from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Saturday at the church.  Herman-Taylor Funeral Home, Wisconsin Rapids is honored to be serving the family.

Rita was born May 22, 1941 in Wisconsin Rapids to the late Walter and Helen (Lester) Gross.  She graduated from Saints Peter and Paul Grade School and moved to Jasper, Indiana with her family where she graduated from high school.  After graduating high school, Rita moved back to Wisconsin Rapids and worked for CW Transport for a couple of years.  Rita then made the decision to move to Texarkana, Arkansas to be near family.  While in Texarkana, she worked at her parent’s A&W Root Beer Stand.  It was there that she met her future husband, Terry Hargett.

Rita and Terry were married in Texarkana on March 2, 1963.  Rita was a military wife while Terry served his country full time in the United States Airforce.  After 20 years of service, Rita and Terry moved back to Wisconsin Rapids and later Port Edwards.  Terry passed away on July 27, 2015.

Rita was a faithful member of St. Alexander Parish in Port Edwards.  She was a longtime member of TOPS, where she served as president for many years.  Rita enjoyed playing bingo, doing Sudoku puzzles and cheering on the Green Bay Packers.

Rita is survived by one sister, Kathy (Henry) Oliver; sister-in-law, Jeanette Gross; brother-in-law, Bert (Deana) Hargett; several nieces and nephews; a special longtime friend, Diane (Jerry) Blanchard; and a special spiritual friend, Sister Catherine Kaiser.  She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Terry, brother, Tom Gross, and sister, Mary Ann Pendl.

Words cannot express our gratitude of love and appreciation for the support, acts of kindness, prayers and flowers during this journey of my sister, Rita.  A special thank you to my niece Patti, nephew John and cousin Margaret for your constant care and visitation to Rita.  Thank you Diane for all you’ve endured.  Thank you to the entire staff of Edgewater Haven Nursing Home, Heartland Hospice, and UW Cancer Center.  Special thanks also to Herman-Taylor Funeral Home.  Thank you all - Kathy and Henry Oliver.