Laurieta "Rita" Mae Shaffer
Laurieta (Rita) Mae Rash Shaffer
Laurieta (Rita) Mae Rash Shaffer, age 70 of Lusk, passed away April 8. Services will be held in Lusk and in Newton, Kan., with burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton, Kan.
Laurieta was born August 30, 1935, in Rosalia, Kan., to William P. and Maggie (Lewis) Rash. In 1936, the family moved to Newton, Kan. where she attended Lincoln Grade School and Newton High School. Later they moved to Park City, Kan., where she was baptized in 1964 at the Baptist Church. Rita married Richard Shaffer March 11, 1951, in Wichita, Kan. and later divorced 1958. Rita married Leo Seiwert in October of 1958, to this union was three children, later divorced in 1974. In 1981, Rita re-married Richard Shaffer.
Laurieta (Rita) was a foster mother, worked for Colman Company in Wichita, Kan., for seven and a half years, Harcross Chemical Co. in Kansas City, Kan. Later she worked for her husband at 81 Super Service, and did sewing for several companies in upholstering patio cushions. She enjoyed bowling, fishing, doing crafts, dancing and gardening. Rita was a member of Lusk Does Drove 64 and Newton Eagles Auxiliary Aerie 2516.
She is survived by her three children, daughter Chariss Easter of Wichita, Kan., two sons, Douglas and wife Victoria Seiwert and step-daughters, Jessica and Carrissa of Casper, and Darrin Seiwert of Kansas City, Kan., six granddaughters, Amy Baker of England, Rochelle Siewert of Kansas City, Mo., Melissa, Tara, Ericka and Lily Easter of Wichita, Kan. Sister-in-law Margaret Claycraft of Tucson, Ariz., brother-in-law Marvin Cunningham of Newton, Kan., nieces Joanne and Husband Pet Peters of Newton, Kan., Judy and husband Bill Richardson of Buffalo, N.Y., nephews Jim and wife Bev Stanton of Colon, Ill. , Jerry and his wife Bev Stanton of Derby, Kan., Mickey Craft of Newton, Kan., and her many friends.
Laurieta (Rita) was preceded in death by her parents, former husband, sisters Mina Young of Newton, Kan., Maxine Stanton of Colona, Ill., Jaunita Kirby of San Antonia, TX., brothers, William Robert Craft Rash of Newton, Kan., Joseph Earl Rash of Newton, Kan., and Marshall Missouri, Walter Craycraft of Newton, Kan., Merle Craycraft of Tucson, Ariz., and many aunts and uncles and her close friend, Keith (Red) Davis of Lusk.
Memorials may be made to the Lusk Ambulance Service or Lusk Senior Center. A memorial service will be held at the Elks Lodge Sunday April 23 at 2 p.m.