Rita Lavonne Coombes, age 64, passed from this life into the loving arms of Jesus on April 18th, 2017, in Cox South Hospital at 11:32 pm surrounded by her children. Rita was born September 24th, 1952, in Springfield MO and was raised in Republic, MO. Rita was in the 1970 graduating class of Republic High School. She was voted "Senior Class Clown" as she loved to have fun and act in various plays and dramatic productions.

Rita was the Republic City Clerk for many years until she married her husband, William Eugene Coombes, on December 30th, 1982, and they began a family a year later. Rita is the mother of three children, Andrea, Andy and Matt, whom she cherished more than words can say. Later when she became a Grandma her heart overflowed with love and joy as she spoiled her grandbabies continuously.

Rita sacrificed anything and everything she had to help everyone around her even if that meant that she would go without. When people came to her with a problem she did everything in her power to fix it and make it all better. She knew how to walk into a room and talk to each person and make them feel special and loved. She would liven up any party with jokes, dramatic impersonations, hog calls, or dancing. She would dress in all kinds of costumes from the Hatfields and McCoys to being a crazy clown lady named Starla; that liked to drive up next to teenagers and holler out the window that she'd meet them down by the apple tree for some "necking". She was scared of heights and driving across tall bridges. She'd scream and close her eyes driving across the bridge which would then make everyone else scream!

She never passed an opportunity to teach her kids to be kind to all people. She'd go out of her way to get a hot cup of coffee and soup to take back to someone homeless on the side of the road or to warm up a bell ringer at Christmas time. She was often called "Aunt Bea" in the basketball days because they knew how kind she was to everyone. Rita loved church. She loved God with all of her heart and she cherished every moment to go and be in the presence of the Lord and worship with arms waving. She always made it a point to take her kids to church and teach them about God's love through example. Some of her best memories were going to church and helping the ladies serve in fellowship dinners or making fried pies and peanut brittle.

But her pride and joy was becoming a grandma and rocking her grandbabies to sleep for hours, scratching their backs, coloring pretty pictures, or taking them to Messy Munchkins class where they'd come home wearing more paint and glitter than what stayed on the papers! Baba Rita loved getting her nails done with Hadassah and sneaking all kinds of cookies and candy to her grandkids despite the scoldings of their parents that she was spoiling them rotten. All in all…Rita knew how to love…wholeheartedly…sacrificially…and that will never end.

Rita was preceded in death by her brother, Danny Glen Jones; her grandbaby girl, Angelina Hope Blakemore; and her father, Clarence Jones of Everton, MO.

Rita is survived by her husband, William Coombes of Republic; her mother, Justeen Marie Jones of Republic; brother, Rev. Bill L. Jones and his spouse Sandie Jones of Bolivar MO; sister, Cathy Beshears of Republic; and brother, David Jones of Everton. She is also survived by her three children and their loving spouses, Andrea and Matthew Blakemore of Republic, Andy and Irina Coombes of Springfield, and Matt and Brittni Coombes of Republic; five grand children, Brenton Blakemore, Bryson Blakemore, Hadassah Coombes, Kal El Coombes and Wyatt Coombes and a soon to be born grandson named Braxton Coombes; as well as many other nephews, in-laws and extended relatives and cherished friends that will miss her dearly.

Visitation will be held from 10-11 AM, with funeral services starting at 11 AM, Saturday, April 22, 2017, in the James River Church - West Campus, 3953 West Farm Road 168, Springfield, MO 65807. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery of Republic, MO.

Please have all flowers delivered to the James River Church, West Campus by 5 PM, Friday.