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Rita Kraft Obituary
Rita Anne (Lawyer) Kraft, (67) of Austin, Texas, died Oct. 2, 2010, after a fierce fight with cancer. She was born March 19, 1943 in Dayton, Ohio, to John Russell and Frances Elizabeth (Reese) Lawyer.
Rita was predeceased by her parents; her brother, James Russell Lawyer, his daughter, Valentine, and his son, James Michael; her brother-in-law, James William Hooper, his sons, Terrence Michael, Stephen Eric, and Keith Alan; many aunts and uncles and cousins.
Rita grew up in Zanesville, Ohio, where she attended St. Nicholas grade school then graduated from Bishop Rosecrans High School in 1961. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor degree (medical technology) in 1965. She met her future husband, Leland Milo Kraft, Jr., there and they were married on Sept. 2, 1967. Their first daughter, Lisa Anne, was born in 1968 in Columbus, Ohio, followed by their second daughter, Michelle Leigh, in 1969 in Opelika, Ala. Rita worked for several years in the medical field and in food research, finally getting her real estate broker's license in California in 1989.
She was an active REALTOR and involved in community affairs for years in Camarillo. Rita and Lee moved to Austin, Texas, in 2007 near their daughter Michelle and family. She retired, but kept busy volunteering for Mobile Loaves and Fishes, church blood drive, and Habitat for Humanity, and was a member of St. Thomas More Parish.
Rita loved being with her family and spoiling her five grandchildren, walking, cooking, doing crossword puzzles, reading, playing bunco, and being with her friends.
Surviving are her husband of 43 years, Lee; daughter, Lisa Bermudez (husband Chris) of Oxnard; and daughter, Michelle Murray (husband Peter) of Austin, Texas; and five grandchildren, Christian, Cali, and Curren Bermudez of Oxnard, and Connor and Tanner Murray of Austin, Texas; and sister, Jean Hooper of Zanesville, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews and their children, two uncles and one aunt.
Memorial services to celebrate Rita's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Oct. 12 at St Thomas More Parish, 10205 RR 620 N, Austin, Texas. Interment will be at St Thomas More Columbarium. Reception to follow. Memorials may be made to either the Cancer Society or Humane Society. Arrangements by Cook-Walden/Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Rd., Austin, TX 78750; 512-335-1155.
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Memories and Condolences
for Rita Kraft
Tina Melendez
October 19, 2010
To the Kraft family, I had the honor and the privledge of knowing and working with Rita for many years in Camarillo. She was an outstanding Realtor and I always looked forward to working with her. Rita's love for the Camarillo Community was strong. Her smile and Caring ways were always the first thing that entered a room with her. Thank you for the wonderful memories of work and friendship.
Cathy Mims
October 14, 2010
To Dear Rita's Loving Family, I worked with Rita in the Board of Realtors when we were all going thru the chairs. Rita was someone who you knew you could count on and she was a most sincere person. Rita told me she was moving and I was saddened for our loss but happy for her in retirement. It sounds like she was doing the things that she loved, especially helping Habitat for Humanity with that good ole paint brush (what happened to retirement?) and her many other skills as well. I miss knowing she is no longer with us but I know that the Good Lord has a wonderful plan for her on the other side. May God Bless and Comfort all of you that are left to mourn her leaving, it is only natural but what a glorious day for her meeting face to face with her creator.
Jill Waters
October 12, 2010
Rita was a beautiful woman of grace and she was such a joy to work with at Prudential California Realty in Camarillo. She always had a smile on her face and it was so easy to see how much she loved her family. She will be missed.
Tom Helmer
October 11, 2010
I guess God needed someone to lead the paint crew in heaven. You will be missed here on earth.
Pat Horne
October 11, 2010
I met Rita several years ago in my position as house lead for the Austin Habitat for Humanity annual Catholic build. She was one of the many enthusiastic volunteers who showed up on site, then she rose through the ranks until she was one of my paint crew leaders.
Rita was always eager and happy to complete any job we assigned to her. She was a model volunteer and person in general. I hope Rita will be taking her paint brush with her to Heaven so she can help keep things painted there.
She will be dearly missed.
Rita, her family and her friends are in my prayers.
Donita Haden
October 11, 2010
habitat will greatly miss Rita. She was a real trooper! Donita Haden
Jack Mattingly
October 11, 2010
Rita was one of my high school classmates that I always admired. I was looking forward to seeing her next summer at our 50th class reunion. We reconnected recently and have been Facebook friends this past year. Her entries were always positive with no indication of her illness - I was surprised by her death. My deepest sympathy to her family.
Sincerely,
Jack Mattingly
Class of '61
Sandy McClelland
October 10, 2010
Rita was a great upperclassman at St Nicholas and Rosecrans. She was always smiling and accepting and ready with an encouraging word.
My deepest smypathy to her family and especially Jean Hooper....you are a special lady also.
Fondly,
Sandy Reibel McClleland
Class of '62
October 10, 2010
Dear Lee- We were deeply saddened to hear of Rita's death. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this most difficult time. Sincerely, Don and Jeanie Murff
Karen Archibald
October 7, 2010
Rita was such a sweet and loving lady. She always had a smile on her face and a good sense of humor! I will miss our brief chats that we would have when she would be on the home stretch after walking! Sending love and prayers to the family.
Karen, Greg & Wyatt Archibald
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