Rita Sue Jackson

Rita went home to Heaven to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday evening, February 16th, 2020.

Rita had a hemorrhagic stroke December 23rd 2019. After a week in the hospital she came home and made almost a full recovery. It was a great shock to us when she suffered another major hemorrhagic stroke February 10th and collapsed into the arms of her loving husband Fred. After spending a week in the hospital mostly unresponsive, she peacefully went to heaven surrounded by her family.

Our hearts ache, and yet we rejoice for Rita that she is experiencing such peace and joy in the presence of the God she loves. She has been set free from the body that caused her much pain and is reunited with family that passed on before.

Looking back on Rita's life, she exhibited amazing resilience in the face of serious health struggles: polio at the age of 3, severe peanut and animal allergies, thyroidectomy in her 20s, and in the past ten years—knee replacements, severe heart irregularities, and spinal disease. She persevered through the pain without complaining and looked to God for guidance and grace.


Rita Sue Jackson was born November 2nd, 1950 to Charles and Ferne Barrett in Altus, Oklahoma. She was raised on a farm in Martha, OK with two older brothers, a younger brother, and sister; she was very proud of her farming heritage. Her parents loved God and family deeply and fostered a loving atmosphere that valued cheerful hard work, helping others and making God a priority. Rita's life on the farm consisted of caring for animals, cooking for the large and hungry family and workers, sewing, and cleaning. Rita spent a lot of time in the kitchen with her mother—one meal was no sooner finished than preparations for the next meal began. Her cooking abilities developed at this time and were appreciated by family and friends for the rest of her life. Rita was an accomplished seamstress, and never wore store bought clothes until college. She and her mother made everything—even coats!

Rita accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior when she was about 9 years old. She developed a more intimate relationship with God after her younger sister was diagnosed with cancer and died as a teenager. Rita spent great amounts of time reading and studying the Bible, which became a lifelong practice in her desire to become more like Jesus. She loved sitting in her 'Bible study' chair with a hot cup of coffee and spending time with the Lord each morning, often at 4 am.

Rita received a Bachelor's of Science from the University of Oklahoma in Clinical Nutrition graduating in 1973. She interned at Park Ridge Hospital in Chicago. Rita then worked in hospitals in Houston, Texas, where she especially felt called to work with cancer patients to help them tolerate and enjoy food.

She met the love of her life, Fred, in an organic chemistry class at OU, and they were later married August 31, 1974. After living in Houston for several years, Rita and Fred moved to California with their two young children, Christine and Nick. They lived in Los Angeles for four years before moving north to Roseville in 1986. Until the kids were getting ready to go to college, Rita loved staying at home with them. She was involved in whatever the children were involved with—enthusiastically cheering them on. She displayed her love for family through cooking—greeting her kids with warm chocolate chip cookies after school and homemade delicious dinners every evening. Rita enjoyed blessing others by bringing meals, sharing her famous rum cakes at Christmas, and inviting others to share in meals with the family, especially during holidays.

Rita loved supporting Fred as he established his Edward Jones office and helped at the office, seminars, and events. In 1995 Rita also became a Certified Financial Planner, and for 20 years she dedicated herself to serving and getting to know clients on a deep, personal level. She helped many other female Financial Advisors by influencing company policies and personally encouraging them. Rita and Fred had a passion for traveling, and they made many memories while visiting over 40 states and 35 countries. In the past few years they took up shooting as a hobby and Rita was quite the sharpshooter. Over the years she served her communities twice as president of home owners' associations as an opportunity to get to know the neighbors. She loved studying God's Word and was active in her churches, Bible studies, mentoring and teaching others. She adored spending time with family (especially her five grandchildren) and friends, cooking, taking walks, playing the piano, and encouraging others. Rita appreciated, enjoyed, and created beauty through painting, creating silk floral arrangements, and decorating her home. Rita was a people person, and she truly valued the opportunity to get to know someone deeply and point them to Jesus.

Rita was preceded in death by her beloved father and mother, Charles and Ferne Barrett; sister Becky; brothers Gary and David; nephew Jonathon Barrett; niece Stephanie Montgomery; uncles and aunts Chauncey and Ruth Barrett, Morris and Mary Caves, and Frankie Caves.

Rita is survived by her husband Fred Jackson of Loomis, CA; daughter Christine Sloan and husband Cody of Rocklin, CA; son Nick Jackson and wife Stephanie of Lacey, WA; five precious grandchildren: Ashley and Emily Sloan, Ben, Hannah and Caleb Jackson; brother, John Barrett and wife Martha; sisters-in-law Carolyn Barrett-Teigland and Michelle Maupin Barrett; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family, and beloved friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Rita's name to Samaritan's Purse or Mentoring Sacred Arts. Thank you.

Special thanks to the attentive and caring team at Sutter Roseville Hospital Emergency Room and Trauma Neuro Intensive Care; Heritage Oaks Memorial Chapel for their sensitivity and comfort; and Pastor Rich Sherman for his comforting presence. The family would also like to express our thanks for the many kind words, condolences, cards, food, flowers and comfort. The outpouring of love has encouraged our hearts.

"My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God...Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:5-8 This was written by Rita in her journal the day of her first stroke, followed by the exclamation, "Praise the LORD!"

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2