Rita Pearl Cooksie, age 87, died at home, in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday, February 13, 2017 after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond C. Cooksie of Dallas Texas. She was the oldest of 13 children, and is preceded in death by James, Arvin, Jr., Wendell, Gary, Stephen, Arlee, Mary Jane Jones and Wanda Broadnax.

Rita was Born on September 3, 1929, in Cumberland County, Kentucky, to the late Arvin and Lillie Jones. She Attended Jackman High School in Columbia, Kentucky from which she graduated in 1949. Upon graduating from high school, she lived in Louisville, Kentucky, where she worked in the employ of the Blue Boar Restaurant. After relocating to Dallas Texas, she resettled in Glensfork, Kentucky, where she was an employee of Russell Sportswear for over twenty years.

Rita was a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, where she served faithfully as a Sunday School teacher and church treasurer as long her health would permit. She loved reading, quilting and gardening. She also loved to preserve various fruits and vegetables that she grew. She always had time for others, and was a caregiver for several members of the family when called upon.

Her greatest joy was her four girls. She was proud of the noteworthy accomplishments of each, and she shared each achievement with family and friends. Likewise, she had a great and abiding love for her grandchildren and did not miss an opportunity to show it.  She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, cousin and friend. She will be missed by all, and will always be in our hearts and thoughts.

Celebrating her life, and cherishing the beautiful memories, she leaves a loving and devoted family; Daughters, Ina Cooksie, Kathy Cooksie Neal (Gerald), and  Carolyn Cooksie,  of Louisville, Kentucky and Jancie Collins (Fred), Columbus, Ohio; Grandchildren, Kris Yocum, Shauna Arthur, Brandon Neal, Kristin Neal, Drew, Blake, and Grant Collins, and; Great-Grandchild, Jada Arthur; Sisters Pat Eddington and Deborah Thomas; Brothers, Maxwell Jones and Thurman Jones (Margaret) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many devoted and loving friends.

Funeral service - Saturday, February 18, 2107 at 11:00 A.M. at First Baptist Church with Rev. Albert Taylor delivering the eulogy

Burial in Forest Lawn Cemetery

Visitation on Friday from 5:00-8:00 P.M. and after 7:00 A.M. Saturday at Grissom-Martin Funeral Home

Casket Bearers:  Dwight Sweeney, Robert Henderson, Larin Jones, Carl Jones, Mark Jones, Mickel Britt

Flower Bearers:  Janie Henderson, Bernice Bigham, Karen Smith, Teresa Talley, Terryl Graves, Patricia Britt, Alice Graves

Grissom-Martin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements

 Service Information