Rita Joann Williams Allen

Rita Joann “ Rita Jo” Williams Allen, age 84, of Archer City, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, March 5, 2022, at her residence.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

Rita Jo was born Sept. 9, 1937 in Benjamin to the late Monroe Grey Williams, Sr. and Vera Bell Cook Williams.

She attended school in Archer City and then moved to California. There she met Cecil Odell Eads and they were married in 1954. Together they had two daughters, Cecelia and Annie. He preceded her in death on Aug. 3, 1997. She then married Robert Allen on March 24, 1996. He preceded her in death in 2013.

Rita Jo was a stay at home mom until her girls were in high school. She was a realtor and worked in retail sales until her retirement in 2000.

She loved to play Bunco, go to the casino, working in her yard and traveling. Rita Jo was a member of the Eastern Star.

In 2015, she returned to Archer City to live with her daughter where she lived until her death.

Survivors include her two daughters, Cecelia Westin and husband, Chuck and Annie Laverty, all of Archer City; four grandchildren, Lenice Seachrist and husband, David of San Diego, Thomas Laverty of Millbury, Mass., Ryan Chavez and wife, Sarah of Escondido, Cali., and Jennifer Calzaretta and husband, Joseph of Colo.; seven great-grandchildren, Hailey, Ayden, Jamey, Carter, Taylor, Emmie and Kendall; sister-in-law, Margaret Williams of Archer City; several nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her son-in-law, Chuck Laverty; four sisters, Mildred, Merle, Dolly and Vera and three brothers, Buddy, Tommie Joe and Monroe.

The family suggests memorials to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310 or to the Archer Service Center, P.O. Box 578, Archer City, Texas 76351.