Rita O. Koontz, age 86

Rita O. Koontz, of Newton, Illinois, and a former resident of Charleston, Illinois, passed away at 6:29 AM - Thursday, December 22, 2016, at her residence at the Villas of Hollybrook in Newton, Illinois.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM – Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Newton, Illinois, with Fr. Dean Probst celebrating mass.  Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Newton, Illinois.  Visitation will be held 2 hours before the mass.  In loving memory of Rita, memorials may be made to the St. Thomas Church or School.  Arrangements are under the care of the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois.

Rita was born on December 19, 1930, in Bogota, Illinois, the daughter of Eldon Eugene and Josephine Loraine (Rauch) Massey.  She married Donald E. Koontz on December 30, 1950, in Mattoon, Illinois, and he preceded her in death on December 17, 2014.

Rita worked at Moore Business Forms for many years.  She was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Newton, Illinois.  She enjoyed china painting, playing cards and dominos.

Rita is survived by:
Brothers – Keith (Marilyn) Massey of Debois, Indiana and Robert (Lois) Massey of Newton, Illinois
Sister – Marietta Kerner of Ypsilanti, Michigan

Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Patrick, Jerry and Max Massey and a sister Carolyn Woods.