RITA D. (JONES) LEVY, 83, died December 24th after suffering a stroke on December 16th. Born in Ada Valley, she moved to NLR in the third grade where she attended McRae Elementary School. Rita always believed in the power of education and set high standards for herself and her children. She graduated valedictorian of the 1954 NLR High School class. She was also valedictorian of the College of Education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville when she received her degree from there, finishing in three years by taking summer classes at UCA and Arkansas Tech. She taught English at NLR Junior High for four years. 
Rita married her high school sweetheart, Morris Levy, on December 20, 1958. She helped her husband with his medical studies. The couple lived in Fort Knox, San Francisco, and Fort Sill while Morris was in the Army and had a child at each location. Rita delighted in motherhood and enjoyed raising and educating her children. In their sixty-one year marriage, Rita and Morris traveled extensively. She was active in the PTA and other school activities. Rita's children continued her tradition and graduated valedictorian of their high school classes at Northeast High School in 1980, 1982, and 1984. Daughter Elizabeth practiced law until she married. Son David became a chemical engineer and son Robert, a doctor.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Vida Jones, and her brothers, Wallace and Gene Jones. She will be mourned by her husband, children, son and daughter-in-law, Itzhak and Nikki, and three grandchildren, Gabe, Jonathan, and Kathryn. Rita survived breast cancer, removal of one lung, a broken hip, and several abdominal operations. She always was full of life, friendly, and loved animals, especially her cats. 
Funeral Service will be 2 p.m., Monday, December 30, 2019, at Roller-Owens Funeral Home, 5509 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock, AR 72116. Visitation will be one hour prior to service. Private family burial will be at Oakland Jewish Cemetery in Little Rock. Online Guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/owens

Published December 28, 2019