Obituary - Rita Corrine Burns

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praises her. Rita Corrine Burns, 82, of Hume, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Rita was born on January 20th, 1941, second child to David Austin and Anna Frances Brooks. Rita grew up south of Hume on the farm with her 3 sisters and 2 brothers, Norann, Mildred, Gene, Helen and Frank.

She began her schooling in a one room schoolhouse, Brush College, and completed her schooling at Hume R 8. After graduation she moved to Kansas City to work and live with Norann. It was in KC that she met and married Kenneth Burns on April 11th, 1959, they were married 64 years. In the early years of their marriage Rita worked outside of the home but as their family grew she became a keeper at home and this is where she thrived. She excelled in cooking, housekeeping, gardening, canning, sewing, and was an excellent wife and mother to her 4 boys, Ken, Troy, Brett and David. The boys knew that they could always depend on their mom to help them with school projects, homework, chores & yard work. Rita was multi-talented and could do just about anything she put her mind to. She was especially gifted in cake decorating and made beautiful wedding cakes for each of her son's weddings, and some of her grandchildren’s weddings as well as many nieces and nephews and other friends and family. In the 1970’s Kenneth and Rita bought their 80 acre farm just south of Hume, MO.

For many years Rita managed two households as they would travel back and forth from the city each weekend and spend most of the summer at the farm. She was an incredibly hard worker and kept her yard, garden and flower beds impeccable. On top of all her duties as a wife and mom she planted a large strawberry patch and sold strawberries so that she could buy new oak cabinets for her kitchen. She was very entrepreneurial with her cake decorating business and strawberry business! Rita was a great “boy” mom and enjoyed working and spending time with her boys. She taught them much by her example of working hard without complaining and always doing things with a smile. Rita was diagnosed with chronic leukemia in the 1990’s but she fought it well with a great attitude and it hardly slowed her down! 

Rita was gifted at hospitality and always enjoyed serving guests that would come and serve their favorite desserts. She enjoyed playing cards and games with her family, friends, children and grandchildren and could be quite competitive but always with a smile and a laugh. 

Most importantly Rita was a follower of Jesus Christ, she had saving faith in Him and enjoyed being active in church as long as it was possible for her to attend. Alzheimer’s slowly took Rita away from us, we have lost her little by little but she maintained a happy attitude and had a contagious smile until the end of her life on earth. We do not grieve like people with no hope because we know that Rita is rejoicing in God, His glory, His grace and His beauty, experiencing the delights and wonders of Heaven with a renewed mind. Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting but a woman that fears the Lord will be praised.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, brother Gene and sister Norann. She leaves behind for now her husband Kenneth, sons Ken, Troy, Brett and David and their wives, 9 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the Hume Christian Church, 9413 Southwest 4th Street, Hume, MO 64752. Services are under the direction of the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. 

The family suggests memorial contributions to Alzheimer's Association or the Gideons International, St. Clair County Camp. These donations may be left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.