Marita Ann "Rita" Harsa-Logue

THE VILLAGES, Fla. - Marita "Rita" Ann Harsa-Logue, 79, passed away peacefully on Aug. 7, 2025, at Cornerstone Hospice house in The Villages, Florida, surrounded by love and memories of a remarkable life.

Born on July 16, 1946, in Cleveland, Ohio. Rita grew up in the Harsa Bakery, owned by her parents. She attended St. Vincent De Paul grade school, St. Joseph Academy high school, and Cuyahoga Community College. Always one to follow her adventurous spirit, Rita declared one day, "There's got to be more than this." She drove to the San Francisco Bay Area with her friends, where they began their new California lives in the Twin Peaks neighborhood.

Rita developed a lifelong friendship with June Nakata. Together, they worked as tour guides for Grey Line Tours and in the hotel industry. June Nakata preceded Rita in death, and those who knew them can easily imagine the two of them now organizing heavenly tours together.

Rita worked at the Jack Tar Hotel, the Hilton Hotel, and other hotels in the city. Her next great adventure took her to Hong Kong with the Lee Garden Hotel. Focusing on sales in the Americas, she excelled by cultivating relationships with major travel companies in the U.S. and Canada.

A colorful chapter of Rita's life unfolded when Rita asked her friend, Pat Biegel, "Is he married?" about a man she saw across the room at a funeral. When told he was going through a divorce, Rita replied, "That's good enough for me." That man was Edward Logue. The next day, at a gathering after the service, Rita told Pat, "I'm going to marry that guy." Pat replied, "You just met him!" Rita and Ed began dating shortly after.

In May 1979, Rita invited Ed to join her on a three-week tour to China she was leading. In Hong Kong on the train, one of the Chinese tour escorts asked if Ed was her husband. Rita replied, "No, he's my boyfriend." The escort responded, "It would be good if you got married. We can have a ceremony in Guangzhou." Rita eagerly agreed. A monk officiated a simple but symbolic ceremony. He gave them each a warm bag of peanuts, telling them to hold them to their hearts and said, "You are the Lamb, and he is the Tiger. He will protect you for life."

On Feb. 21, 1980, Ed proposed to Rita at an Italian restaurant in North Beach, San Francisco. She said yes, with the condition that they have a Catholic wedding. Ed's prior marriage had been in the Catholic Church, so he needed an annulment. Rita reached out to a former boyfriend, now an ex-priest, who helped them navigate the proper path to their marriage. They were wed in Cleveland at St. Patrick's church on Nov. 29, 1980. A second celebration was held in Danville, California, at St. Isidore's church. Rita often said, "We've been married three times!"

Years later, tired of being on the road constantly, she partnered with Richard St. Dennis, to open a travel agency. Later, she inquired about Kar Products where Ed worked, to see if they were hiring. When she learned the company wasn't actively hiring "women," that did not sit well with Rita, and she insisted on meeting the boss. After that meeting, Rita obviously made an impression on him and started her way into a 12-year career with Kar Products. She was one of the first women sales representatives to be hired.

In 1998, Rita and Ed left Danville, California, and moved to Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Rita started a food co-op, coordinating large orders from Gordon Foods and rallying the local community to buy in bulk. Her organizing skills and social spark turned each food delivery into a community event.

Later, when asked to house-sit for friends in The Villages, Florida, Rita & Ed fell in love with the neighborhood and moved there. Rita took up golf on July 4, 2020; despite never having played before, she shot a hole-in-one. Rita continued her love of travel, taking cruises and tours all over the world with Ed between 2008 and 2022.

On Jan. 5, 2024, she moved into memory care housing due to the dreadful effects from Alzheimer's disease. Rita's life was one of bold adventures, great love, deep friendships, and generous spirit. She will be remembered for her laughter, determination, and the way she inspired everyone around her to embrace life to the fullest.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Mary Harsa, and her twin brothers, Jim and Joe.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 44 years, Edward Logue; her sister and best friend, Georgia Ferguson; niece, Lisa Ferguson (Dawn); nephew, Kevin Ferguson (Aimee); great-nephew, Daniel; and nieces and nephews, Jean, Michelle, Joe, Celeste, Jim, Therese, Sharon, and Shanta.

A funeral mass will be held 10 a.m. Oct. 2, at St. Mark's the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 7801 SE Hwy 42, Summerfield, Florida.

Rita would not want flowers in her honor, but rather she'd want help in ending Alzheimer's. We are asking you to donate to the Walk To End Alzheimer's - Tri-County & The Villages. You can do so by using the following website address: https://act.alz.org/goto/forRita.

Arrangements were entrusted with Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society-Spanish Springs, 352-430-1449. Sentiments are encouraged at baldwincremation.com