of Lead Hill, AR

November 29, 1932 - October 8, 2016

Rita Fern Burleson, age 83, of Lead Hill, Arkansas, passed away Saturday, October 8, 2016, at her daughter Sparky's home in Lead Hill where she had been living for the past year and a half. Rita was born in Marion County, Arkansas November, 29, 1932, the daughter of Coy and Ruby (Taylor) Jenkins. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joe M. Burleson; a granddaughter, Zoie Riggs; her sisters, Vera Ruth Roark and Coyeta Whited; and brothers, J. T. Jenkins and Rodney Chuck Jenkins.

Rita and Junior raised their family on a dairy farm in Lead Hill. They retired and moved into town in 1972 and lived out their remaining years in the Lead Hill area with Junior passing in 1993. Rita enjoyed the time with her sisters, playing cards into the wee hours of the morning during their sleep-overs. She looked forward to seeing her two boys every morning for coffee and chocolate gravy. She was a life-time member of the Lead Hill Church of Christ and a life-long resident of the Lead Hill area. Rita was an avid basketball player in school and always enjoyed a good basketball game on TV. She also enjoyed watching her grandchildren run and play and delighted in Easter egg hunts with them every spring.

Rita is survived by two sons and two daughters; Billy (Sally) Burleson of Lead Hill, Steve (Patsy) Burleson of Lead Hill, Cathie (Sparky) Atchison of Lead Hill and Michelle (Brock) Riggs of Lead Hill; two sisters, Charlotte Parker of Harrison and Doris Owen of Chattanooga, Tennessee; her sisters-in-law; Ella Marie Burleson, Norma Burleson, Lola Burleson and Kaye Doshier.

Rita is also survived by her grandchildren, Billy Burleson, Jr., Cory Burleson, Dustin Burleson, Chance Burleson, Misty Ratliff, Bailey Riggs, Bandey Riggs, Daizie Riggs, Jordan Smith and Eli Smith; 14 great- grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild; along with many nieces and nephews.



Visitation was Tuesday, October 11, 2016, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home.

Funeral service was Wednesday, October 12, 2016, at Lead Hill Church of Christ, with Dustin Burleson and Chance Burleson officiating.

Pallbearers were Rita's grandsons, Billy Burleson Jr., Cory Burleson, Dustin Burleson, Chance Burleson, Landon Merriman, Bailey Riggs and Bandey Riggs.

Honorary pallbearers were Rita's caregivers, Devon Engleman, Tina Richardson, and Evelyn Bruce.

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