Rita Bess Kleinpeter Stuart died peacefully on December 5, 2021, in Pensacola, Florida, at the age of 99. She was born September 1, 1922, in Grosse Tete, Louisiana, the third of five children of William Sidney Kleinpeter and Mary Ida Blanchard Kleinpeter. Her father was in the timber, sugar cane, and cattle ranching business in Iberville parish, where he was one of the largest landowners in the area.
Rita had wonderful memories of an idyllic and loving childhood surrounded by siblings, cousins, and extended family on Bayou Grosse Tete in the home her father built that remains in the family today. Living on the property, they were almost completely self-sufficient. “We had everything we needed. We barely knew there was a depression in the 30s. At dinnertime, my father used to say, ‘Everything on our table came from our land – except the salt.’”
Rita was an excellent athlete at Shady Grove High school and was named the “second healthiest girl in Iberville Parish.” Her brother Kenny was named the healthiest boy. Rita graduated from Louisiana State University in 1943. She had a lifelong love of reading, which she passed on to her sons.
At the end of her freshman year at LSU, Rita was spotted on a bus by her future husband, Walter Stuart, who said to a friend, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry!” Before introducing himself, Walter enrolled in dancing classes because he heard Rita loved to dance. Their senior year they were featured on the cover of the LSU yearbook. They were married May 20, 1944, in Grosse Tete, just months before Walter, a commissioned U.S. Navy Lieutenant, shipped out to the Philippines for the remaining two years of World War II. They were married 73 years and were a devoted couple who rarely spent time apart. In later years their younger grandchildren saw them as a single unit and gave them the affectionate moniker “PapaRiri.”
Walter’s employment took them from Grosse Tete to the Bay area of California and back to Louisiana, where they raised their five boys in New Orleans. According to Walter, Rita was the guiding force in promoting the boys’ education and encouraged their advanced degrees in business, medicine, law, and design.
Rita was a wonderful cook. Her table was always filled with an abundance of perfectly prepared southwest Louisiana dishes. Her book of recipes, including crawfish etouffee, steamed shrimp, crabmeat stuffed mirliton, dirty rice, and chocolate cake, is treasured by her family.
Her children and grandchildren adored “Riri” and will remember her as a soft-spoken calming influence. Rita loved her life and was a great observer of the natural beauty surrounding her, forever stopping to admire a flower, tree or cloud that caught her eye. She took delight in the everyday events of her life and the lives of her grandchildren. She had an inner tranquility and a happy nature. Even in times of challenging medical issues, she always responded to the question, “How are you?” with, “I’m fine! I’ve never had an ache or a pain in my life!”
Rita is survived by four sons and their wives: Walter Bynum Stuart IV of Pasadena, CA, (Lettice Binnings Stuart); Robert Kenneth Stuart, MD, of Charleston, SC, (Charlene Gates McCants Stuart); Ronald Sidney Stuart, MD, of Pensacola, FL, (Jeanne Marie Elmer Stuart); Scott Matthew Stuart of Greenwich, CT, (Lisa Garratt Stuart); 12 grandchildren: Courtney Lyon Stuart-Alban (Juan Pablo Alban); Walter Burke Stuart; Roger Darren McCants (LuAnn Oliver McCants); Robert Morgan Stuart, MD (Sarah Commito Stuart); Elaine Catherine Stuart-Shah (Nirav Sanjay Shah); Ryan Sidney Stuart (Tricia Lynn Stuart); Mary Katherine “Katie” Stuart St. Clair (Jason Shane St. Clair); Lauren Elizabeth Stuart Ouellette (Ian Ouellette); Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Lecoutre (David Lecoutre); Jessica Cleary Stuart, MD; Garratt Kleinpeter Stuart; Scott Nathaniel “Nate” Stuart; Elizabeth Adair “Daisy” Stuart; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Walter; a son, Douglas Kleinpeter Stuart; three brothers: Francis “Jinks” Kleinpeter; Leo “Jerry” Kleinpeter; Ken Kleinpeter; and one sister, Katherine Kleinpeter Kimball.
The Stuart family is enormously grateful to the caregivers whose kind and loving care brought peace and happiness to Rita over the years: Pauline and Jim Simmons, Darlene Willis, Christina Dunn, Cathy Dewey, Erin Boyle, Kim Shoemaker, Angela Thomas, Helen Larson, Lisa Schossow, Mary Selig, Christie Huber, Gail McPherson, Kaylee Miller, Vivian Morrell, Christie Young, Elaine Saban, Mary Robinson, Carla Allen, and Clara Stokes.
Rita was once asked if she feared death. ”No, I don’t think I do, but I’ll tell you this: I am going to miss this world so much.” Rita, the world will miss you.
Visitation will be on Monday, December 13, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 76940 Gum St, in Grosse Tete, LA, from 9 a.m. until the Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, 4045 North Street in Baton Rouge. Family and friends are invited to lunch following interment at the City Club in Baton Rouge, 355 North Blvd. In view of the large number of older relatives and friends expected, the family requests that attendees have COVID-19 vaccinations and wear masks.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in honor of Rita Kleinpeter Stuart to Nativity of Our Lord, Pensacola, FL, or St. Joseph’s Church, Grosse Tete, LA.
