Rita H. Stith

Rita H. Stith, 77, of Pitcher, NY, passed away on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, at her home in Pitcher, while surrounded by her family.

Born on January 13, 1937, Rita was a daughter of the late Harry and Belle Moon Hicks.  A longtime resident of Pitcher, she was a 1953 graduate of Otselic Valley School.  She held several jobs in the local area, most recently serving as the Pitcher Town Clerk for the past 13 years.  She was also the town historian with a large research field for and with several local families.  Proud to be a farmer’s wife, her main goal was raising her family, providing a loving home, and helping her husband, Jack, on the farm.  In her spare time, she enjoyed sewing, crocheting, gardening, and bird watching.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Roy “Jack” Stith; and her children, Alan (Sylvia) Stith, Cathy (Phil) Wood, Lawrence “Lary” Stith, Michael (Lee) Stith, and Laurie (Travis) Gross.  She also leaves behind a special friend, Tara Feeley; 23 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; a brother, Riley (Linda) Yale; sisters, Donna Parliman and Sylvia (David) Grover; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Margaret Parker, Roberta (Donald) Fuller, Linda (Robert) Springer, Laurie Stith; and LeRoy Closson; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a son, Kevin Stith, in 1984; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty (Robert) Lawton, June (George) Daley, Stanley L. Yale, Wilma Closson, Isadore and Virginia Stith, Theodore Stith, and Lois Stith.

Funeral services will be held at the K.L. Sharp Funeral Home, Cincinnatus, NY, on Saturday, December 6, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Archie Smith officiating.  Burial will be in North Pitcher Cemetery.  The family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Expressions of sympathy in memory of Rita may be directed to the Pitcher Springs Restoration Project, c/o Jeff Blanchard – Supervisor, Town of Pitcher, 145 Town Hall Rd., Pitcher, NY 13136 or the Chenango County Hospice, 21 Hayes Street, Norwich, NY 13815.