Rita Fay Clardy

Born on August 12, 1957, in Winona, Missouri, Rita was a woman whose life was defined by strength, determination, loyalty, and—above all else—a deep love for her family.

Rita built a remarkable career with Tyson, beginning at the ground level and working her way up through nearly forty years of dedication and hard work. She never believed that any task was beneath her or that any challenge was too great. Day after day, she earned her place through perseverance, knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. In time, she became a General Production Manager, a role she carried with both strength and humility.

Rita did not lead from behind a desk. She led by example. She understood the work because she had done the work, and she understood the people because she valued them. To the many people fortunate enough to work alongside her, Rita was a mentor, a pillar of strength, and a true leader. She showed up early, stayed late, worked hard, and expected the same dedication from herself that she asked of others. Her professional legacy was built not simply on a title, but on forty years of loyalty, integrity, and an extraordinary work ethic. The lives she influenced and the people she encouraged along the way will carry a part of that legacy forward.

Away from work, Rita found happiness in the simple things. She loved having her hands in the dirt, tending to her garden and watching something beautiful grow from the care she gave it. She could spend hours simply watching the birds outside her window, finding peace in the quiet moments of everyday life. She was also an avid reader, and there was rarely a better escape than settling in with a Danielle Steel novel and becoming completely lost in the story.

Rita also loved to travel, and Las Vegas held a special place in her heart. She enjoyed the excitement and adventure of those vacations, especially when she could experience them side-by-side with the love of her life, her husband, Don. But as much as she enjoyed a beautiful garden, a good book, a getaway, or a quiet afternoon, none of those things compared to the joy she found in her family.

Her family was her greatest accomplishment and her greatest source of happiness. Rita cherished the time spent together—the stories, the laughter, the ordinary moments that become extraordinary memories with time. She had a way of filling her home and the lives around her with warmth, beauty, and love. She gave so much of herself to the people she loved, and the imprint she leaves behind is one that cannot be measured in years, accomplishments, or possessions. It lives in the hearts of those who knew her.

Rita was preceded in death by her mother, Francis Lenor Begley; her father, John David Hunter; her brothers, Rick Hunter and Roy Hunter; and her sister, Ruth Wein.

She leaves behind her beloved husband, Don Clardy; her daughters, Julie Lopez, along with her son-in-law Jeff Brimley, and Maria Clardy, along with her son-in-law Steven Lutz; her sons, John Hunter and Joshua Lopez, along with her daughter-in-law Allie Lopez; and her grandchildren, Corissa Reed, Brionna Lopez, Alice Lopez, Randy Gallaway Jr., Elijah Lopez, Andrew Lopez, and Anthony Lopez.

She is also survived by her sisters, Reba Adams and Jan Hunter; her brother, Rocky Hunter; her brother-in-law Norman Baker; her sister-in-law Paula Hunter; and her great-grandchildren, Noah Clardy, Allec Floyd, Damien Lutz, and Jiraiya Lutz.

Rita’s life was one of hard work, quiet strength, fierce devotion, and a love that extended far beyond words. She spent forty years building a career, but her greatest work was building a family and a life filled with memories. She taught those around her what determination looked like, what loyalty meant, and how much beauty could be found in the simple things.

Though she will be deeply missed, Rita’s story does not end with her passing. It continues in the garden she loved, in the stories her family will tell, in the lessons she taught by example, and most importantly, in the generations of people who carry her love with them.

Rita was truly one of those rare people whose presence made an imprint. Her life was a gift, her love was a blessing, and her memory will remain forever in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to call her wife, mother, grandmother, sister, great-grandmother, mentor, and friend.