Rita Ann Bridgforth, 78, went to be with the Lord on July 24, 2020 at 12:55am after her fight with cancer at her home in Harrisonville, MO, surrounded by family.  A Celebration of Life ceremony was held  Thursday, July 30, 2020,  at  the Atkinson Funeral Home, 600 W. Wall St, Harrisonville, MO.  Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Memphis TN.

Rita was born April 26, 1942 to Melvin and Louise (Newberry) Hines in Erie, Kansas. Rita attended Erie schools and graduated in 1959. After school, she moved to Topeka, Kansas to attend college. It was at this time she met Dean Bridgforth and they married July 4, 1960. Rita and Dean spent 33 years together and had three children. They spent most of their time together at their home in Belton, MO. Rita became a bus driver in August of 1969 for the Belton, Missouri school district. This school year marks the first time in 52 years that Rita will not be driving on the first day of school. She will be missed by the school district and DS Bus lines Kincaid Group.

She was active in her church and loved the Lord. Rita loved being with friends and family. She was witty, had a sense of humor, outgoing, spunky, sassy at times and always had an opinion. She enjoyed entertaining and cooking for friends and family, she could come up with the cleverest skits and party games. She loved being outside, gardening, shopping, camping, vacationing and putting her toes in the ocean.  Her house was always decorated with the current holiday.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Rita is preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Louise Hines; husband, Dean Bridgforth; her younger sister, Melva Littlejohn; and former husband, Carl Spence. She is survived by her three children: Mike Bridgforth and wife, Donna, of Belton, MO; Lyn Bridgforth and wife, Patsy, of Belton, MO; and DeAnn Phenix of Broken Arrow, OK; six grandchildren: Kelsey Young, Christopher Bridgforth, Joshua Bridgforth, MaKayla Scheib, Cameron Phenix and Hannah Phenix; her brother, Leon Hines and wife, Sylvia, of Girard, KS; her sister, Twyla Roberts and husband, Larry, of El Dorado, MO; former sister-in-law, Mary Smith; and daughter-in-law, Carlene Rudroff and husband, Rick; and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins, along with great grandchildren.