Lorita M. Coleman

Rita Coleman passed away on Friday, February 1st surrounded by her family who loved her very much. She was born on September 22nd, 1934 on a dairy farm near Holden, Missouri to Mattie and Russell Raber. She attended Stout School, a one room country school, for eight years and graduated from Holden High School in 1952. She graduated from Trinity Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in 1955. She worked at Trinity Lutheran Hospital and KU Medical Center as an RN until continuing her nursing career at Olathe Medical Center, working in surgery from 1976 until her retirement.

Survivors include her four children Jayne (Dave) Jones, Mark (Rose Mary) Coleman, Janet (Bruce) Milford, and Ann Coleman (Mike Whim). Also surviving her are grandchildren Jayme (Tim) Merklein, Molly (Kyle) Kurtz, Dan Jones, Joe (Melissa) Coleman, Tyler Coleman, Jackson Milford, Laura (Aaron) Atkinson, and Christopher Kraft. She is also survived by great grandchildren Samantha and Mackenzie Coleman and Elias Merklein. Also surviving are her sister Agnes (Bob) Engelbardt, brother Sam (Doris) Raber, and sister Alice Borgos, extended family, and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Joe Raber, and granddaughter Maggie Jones. Mom was a master of many things: mashed potatoes, cucumbers and onions, pies, and sugar cookies. She made over forty beautiful quilts for her family. She loved the country, flowers, birds, sunsets, antiques, tomatoes, dewberries, orange pop, iced tea, Sunday family dinners, and most of all, her family. She was a member of Church of the Resurrection West.

A celebration of Rita’s life will be held Wednesday, February 6th, 5:00 – 8:00 PM at the Mahaffie Heritage Center, 1200 Kansas City Road, Olathe, Kansas. Graveside service will be held Thursday, February 7th at Medford Cemetery, five miles south of Holden, Missouri at 10:00 AM.

The family would like to thank the following: Doctors Metz, Miller, Anderson, and Smalley at Olathe Medical Center and Dr. Baranda and staff at the University of Kansas Medical Center for the wonderful and compassionate care they gave Mom over the last thirteen years. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial contribution are asked to consider donations towards a nursing award at Olathe Medical Center. Donations can be sent to Rita Coleman Surgical Nursing Excellence Award, c/o OMC Charitable Foundation, 20375 W. 151st Street Suite 363, Olathe, Kansas 66061. How lucky we are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. We love you, Mom!