Rita Mary Yerxa Obituary (1926 - 2017)

Old Town - Rita Mary Yerxa, 91, passed away peacefully, September 12, 2017, while playing Beano, as she so loved to play games, including Skipbo. She was born in Providence, RI, March 13, 1926, the daughter of William and Ruffine (Gauthier) LeClair. When Rita was two, her mother died and she was taken to Old Town, where she was raised by her uncle and aunt, John and Lucy Gallant. Rita graduated from Old Town High School. She was an administrative assistant for the University of Maine for 25 years in the Animal Sciences Department, working for Dr. Webber and Dr. Gibbs. Rita was an animal lover, who couldn't stand the idea of the lab mice spending long weekends all by themselves, and often took them home so they would have a bit of company and freedom. She rescued birds, rabbits and any stray cats that came her way, including Josephine the Midnight Mass cat who wandered into the church on Christmas Eve. Rita loved to enter any contest that she could. Over the years, her winnings included transistor radios for all her children, TV's, shopping sprees, and of course, the boat. Christmas was one of her favorite holidays, and her adult children would still gather around her table each year for her famous Rabbit Pie. Her beloved husband, Almon used to say "Rita can do wonders cooking with wild meat!" Rita and Almon enjoyed many summers at their camp on Boyd Lake, often joined by the children. In addition to her parents, Rita was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Almon; and her brother Donald, who passed away during WWII while stationed in Germany. She is survived by her loving children, Donald Yerxa and wife, Patricia, their children Jeff, Paula (Shawn) and Jennifer (Matt); Robert Yerxa and wife, Debora, their children, Rob (Kate), Amy (Doug) and Kate (Brian); Leota Arsenault and husband John, their children, Michele (Jamie), Christopher (Carrie), Matthew; Mary Dorr and partner, Richard Watson, their children, Travis Dorr (Brianna), Brandon Buzzell; Tim Yerxa and wife, Debra Taylor, their children, Jessica and Chris; as well as many great grandchildren and special friends, Pat Abbott and Valerie and Nicole Wright. She is also survived by her niece, Brenda Thornton and family; and Olive Rustin and family. The family wishes to extend their deepest thanks to the staff of Ross Manor and St. Joe's Hospital for their care. Services will be private for the family. Those who wish to remember Rita in a special way may make gifts in her memory to the Old Town Animal Orphanage, PO Box 565, Orono, ME 04473.