Rita Marie Blakley

Rita Marie Blakley was called home to her Lord and Savior on November 5, 2009, where she also walked into the arms of her husband Bud. Rita and Bud were married 53 years, and she often talked about being reunited with him.
Rita was born April 5, 1936 in McCleary, Washington. She was raised by her mother, May Springer and stepfather, Delbert Springer. While she was still quite young they moved to Packwood, WA where she lived and attended school until at the age of 15 she came to Yakima to take care of her aunt. While in Yakima she attended one year at Yakima High School. Eventually she returned to Packwood to complete her education and graduate from White Pass High School.
While she was young, her life long best friend, Delores Myers Maloney and she would go sit on a cliff overlooking Highway 12 and watch the cars drive by, she also has shared with us about Doris's mother making homemade bread and the two girls would rush in and cut the ends off smother them in butter and jam and enjoy. She laughed about how it made Delores brother mad. One of the fun things she and her 3 sisters and 1 brother used to do was smash tin cans around their feet and run up and down the road with them making lots of noise. As she told us these stories she always had a twinkle in her eye and a look of mischief on her face.
The day she graduated from High School ,she looked over and saw a good looking boy standing by a tree, she ask him if he wanted to go to her graduation party, he excepted and they were married Oct.9, 1954 and have never been apart until Buds death in March 2007.
She and Bud raised 3 children who survive her, Mark A Blakely (Gloria) of Outlook WA, Joan Blakley of Moxee, WA and Brian Blakley of Pullman, WA. She had 5 grandchildren, Zachary (Tiffany) Williams, Amanda (Anthony) Tirado, Brandon (Lorraine) Blakley, David Blakley, and Grayson Blakley. 5 great-grandchildren, Caleb, Jeron, Theresa, Chelsea, and Elle. She also was very fond of two step great- granddaughters, Mary Ann and Hannah Halcom
She is also survived by 3 sisters, l brother and 2 half brothers, Willetta (Bo) Thompson Mesa, AZ, Violet (Ray) Blakenship of Glenoma, WA, Doreen (Wilson) MacEwen
Mesa, AZ, Bill Springer (Wylane) of Marietta, OK, half brothers, Mike McGhan of Bonney Lake, WA and John McGhan (Pat) Federal Way, WA and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her mother, May Springer, her step father, Delbert Springer and her husband, Estel (Bud) Blakley.
She owned and operated a restaurant in Packwood for over 30 years and was know through out the community for serving a good homemade meal. She was even written up in the New York Times for her Berry pie. She made homemade pies each day of the week all from scratch. When you ate at Rita's Cafe you were not going to get processed food only good home cooking, a tradition she carried on with up until the time of her recent

illness.
She was wonderful cake decorator and was very proud of some of the unusual and elaborate creations she had put together for people.
She bowled in a league for many years and has lots of trophy's that speak of her skill, she also enjoyed fishing with her husband, but she wouldn't bait her on hook. Bud would have to bait the hook and hand the pole back to her.
After living in Packwood for all those years she and Bud moved to Yakima about the time they retired. They lived on a little farm in West Valley. Eventually they sold the farm and moved into Yakima. She and Bud attended the Pioneer church for years, where she worked with the small children, doing arts and crafts. They eventually moved their membership to The Wiley Union Church where she attended until her recent illness.
Each one of her children have a special memory that stands out in their mind,
Mark's was when he was very little and lived on the Blakley Road and a big thunder storm came and scared him badly, his mom came in and calmed him and made him feel safe.
Joan remembers her mom being there for her through the pregnancy and birth of her son, David.
Brian remembers the milkshakes he got from the restaurant.
Rita used to say she sent 3 kids to school and got back about a dozen all wanting ice cream. She used to treat the winning Little League team to milk shakes when they won a game.
The stories of her life in Packwood go on and on and offer a lot of humor as well as hard work and hard times. We all love you mom, and you will be missed by many.
Viewing will be Friday, November 13th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Keith & Keith Ninth Avenue Chapel. Funeral Services and viewing will be at the Four Square Church, Packwood, WA. November 14, 2009. Viewing will start at 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Funeral Service will begin at 12:00 (Noon). Burial will follow at the Silver Creek Cemetery, Randle, WA. Arrangements are in the care of Keith & Keith Funeral Home.