Rita Mae Olsen's Obituary
Rita Mae Olsen Jones, 61, passed away on October 31, 2023. Her final moments were spent peacefully in her home in Glenpool, Oklahoma surrounded by family. Rita was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and chose to keep this news relatively private. Despite her immense bravery and the heroic efforts of her doctors, treatment was unsuccessful. Rita will be dearly missed by all who knew her. It would be wrong to say that Rita lost her battle because she never stopped fighting. No matter how sick she was, she was always determined. When anyone else would have broken, Rita stayed strong. Through her, we know what resilience and perseverance truly look like. There was no quit in Rita. Just because she is no longer here, it doesn't mean she lost her fight.
Rita was born January 10, 1962, to Cecil and Twila Olsen in Wichita Kansas. Rita attended Campus High School and in 1980 Rita moved to Chanute with her family and in 1981 she married Pete Jones.
Rita cared deeply for her family and friends and enjoyed spending time with them, playing billiards, working puzzles, and playing many board and card games.
She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Riley and husband Mekko, her son Justin Jones, her brother Billy Olsen and wife Patty of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, her beloved Grandsons, Christopher and Kristian Riley, nephews Michael, Chris, Nathaniel, Allen and Richard Olsen and many great nieces and nephews.
Rita was proceeded in death by her parents, husband Pete Jones, brothers Charles, Allen, and Danny Olsen, and a nephew Danny Ray Olsen Jr.
Services will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 11:00 am at Countryside Funeral Home in Chanute with burial to follow at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Tulsa Day Center at P.O. Box 1019 Tulsa, OK 74101 tulsadaycenter.com or Choice Hospice 8010 S 1015 East Ave, Ste 200 Tulsa, Ok 74133 choicehealthathome.com. Services entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home 101 N. Highland, Chanute, Kansas 66720.
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