Rita Helen Bybee

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Rita Helen Bybee, 76, passed away at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in Wabash Christian Rehab Center in Carmi.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Harrisburg with Father Ignatius Okonkwo officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, at St. Mary Parish Hall. Arrangements are in the charge of Gaskins-Jones Funeral Home, Harrisburg.

Rita married Charles "Bob" Bybee on April 18, 1955. She was a devoted Catholic and longtime member of St. Mary's Church in Harrisburg. Rita was a registered nurse and worked at A.L. Bowen Center, Harrisburg Medical Center and finally as a certified school nurse at Pope County schools for 15 years.

A central theme in Rita's life was her devotion to her family with six children, 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Her focus throughout her life mostly surrounded around her love of children. She volunteered her time at Camp Ondessonk in Ozark during the summers as a nurse on staff, was an early developer of Harrisburg Girl Scouting and was a strong supporter of the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Harrisburg.

Rita also enjoyed her many friendships from the various clubs she belonged to like Knights of Columbus Auxiliary, College Club of Saline County, Senior Art Class at Southeastern Illinois College, Gallatin-Saline Retired Teachers and St. Mary's Card Club.

Rita is survived by her husband of 53 years, Charles Bybee; five children, Teresa "Teri" Grannan of Slana, Alaska, Charles "Chuck" Bybee Jr. of Chicago, Diane Morey of Cocoa, Fla., John (Annette) Bybee of Burlington, Iowa, and Mark (Diane) Bybee of Carterville; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Margaret Helen McMillen; a son, Roger Bybee; and a daughter-in-law, Naomi Eigner-Bybee.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Southeastern Crisis Pregnancy Center in Harrisburg or Camp Ondessonk in Ozark.