Rita Mae Callaway, Concordia
Obituary | Rita Mae Callaway of Concordia, Kansas | Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home (chaputbuoy.com)
October 26, 1929 - November 23, 2021
Rita Mae Callaway, age 92, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, KS. The only child of Janette (Ouelette) and William Charbonneau, Rita was born on October 26, 1929, and grew up on a farm near Clyde, Kansas.
French was Rita’s primary language, but after attending kindergarten where she couldn’t understand the language, she convinced her parents to only speak with her in English at home. After graduation from high school in Washington, KS, Rita went to a secretarial school in Nebraska to learn shorthand.
Rita married her high school sweetheart, Ray Callaway, on September 3, 1949. They raised two sons, Ronald and Michael Callaway. As Ray worked for the Missouri Pacific and later the Union Pacific Railroads, they made their home in several different towns. Through the years, they lived in Downs, Washington, Atchison, Effingham, Hastings, NE, Beloit, and Concordia.
Rita was a hard worker and held a variety of jobs: as a secretary, waitress, cook, restaurant manager, and finally as a bank officer for financial institutions in Beloit, KS and Concordia, KS.
Rita and Ray were avid duplicate bridge players, and she was an active participant in many bridge clubs. She and Ray were international travelers, champion golfers, and enthusiastic anglers. Rita took great care and pride in her cooking and could even make pheasant and rabbit taste delicious. Her technological skills for a 92-year-old were astounding; she learned how to navigate email, online bridge games, and video calls with family. She was a skilled quilter, gifting her children and grandchildren with the keepsakes.
Rita was known as Grandma Rita to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren will remember her endless energy to make delicious meals, to play board or card games until the late hours, and to expertly navigate their pontoon boat at the lake. Her patient, kind, and steadfast love will always be cherished.
Rita’s faith was strong and unwavering. She was a devout Catholic and member of both Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and the Altar Society in Concordia.
Her parents and her husband of 62 years preceded Rita in death. She is survived by her two sons, Ronald (Elizabeth) and Michael Callaway; six grandchildren; Ryan (Andrea) Callaway, Laura (Jeffery) Sudderth, Kansas Callaway (David Matternowski), Joseph (Megan) Callaway, Chance Callaway, and Rita Callaway; and eight great-grandchildren.
Rosary services will be at 9:30 a.m., Monday, November 29, 2021 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church followed by Mass of Christian Burial that will be held at 10:00 a.m. with Father David Metz officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Clyde, Kansas.
The Callaway family would like to extend their gratitude to all the staff for the attentiveness and loving care given to Rita at both Concordia Marquis Place and Lawrence Presbyterian Manor.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Rita’s name to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 307 E. 5th St., or the Brown Grand Theater, 310 W. 6th St., both in Concordia, KS.
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