Rita Russell Ammons

April 11, 1949 - November 8, 2020

Rita Russell Ammons, 71, of Spencer, formerly of Fort Myers, Fla., passed away Sunday, November 8, 2020, at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center after losing her fight against COVID19. Born April 11, 1949, in Albemarle, NC, she was the daughter of Merrill Lee Russell and Rena Blalock Russell of Spencer. Rita graduated from North Rowan High School in 1967 where she competed in the Miss North Carolina pageant as Miss Spencer and was Miss Holiday Caravan for the Christmas parade. Rita started college as a sister of SIGMA KAPPA before receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Appalachian State University. She spent the next 40 years as an exceptional children’s teacher in Caldwell, Davie, Yadkin, and Rowan Counties in NC and Lee County in FL earning Teacher of the Year honors and finishing as an advocate/liaison for these children and families. Rita spent many years of her retirement traveling the world to experience places, people, and things she had only dreamed about in her youth. Rita moved back home to Spencer in 2018 along with her father before his passing in 2019. She had a lifelong journey with the Lord that brought her to Spencer Presbyterian Church where she became an Elder in 2019 and was a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program. Rita’s Faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ should give everyone comfort who knew her. Rita’s many talents and loves included crafting, gardening, music, the arts, spending time with family, friends, church, and turning her home into an absolute wonderland for Christmas. Every decoration had a special story, and she had a purpose behind every presentation to make every moment memorable and special for all of her guests. We know Jesus will enjoy having Rita put her touches on Heaven this December. She also loved to comb the beach for shells and treasures with her family, and the evidence of her plunder was perfectly displayed throughout the house. Rita’s house was uniquely her home, and all will miss visiting her. Rita’s greatest talent of all was love, and the greatest joy Rita found on earth was giving it to everyone. She was a uniquely special person who showed how much she loved in so many ways. Whether it was pouring her soul into special needs children, fiercely being there for a friend in distress to ensure they have what they need, tirelessly and relentlessly being a caregiver to her aging parents, or always loving and being there for her family, Rita was always the example we all wish we had the strength and wisdom to be more like. She lived up to these moments because God had placed her there for those purposes. She was in so many ways a guiding angel, a guardian angel, and she found so much joy in it all. Nobody knew this as much as her family. We all love you Rita, Mom, Grandma. Rita is survived by her son and his wife Rick and Dana Ammons of Mooresville, her grandson Tristan Ammons of Mooresville, her grandson and wife Kyle and Krystal Sovern of Fort Myers, Fl, her brother and wife Bo and Betty Russell of Okinawa, Japan, her brother and his wife Todd and Becky Russell of Salisbury, nephew Daniel Russell and his wife Ashley of Okinawa, Japan, nephew Adam Russell of Salisbury, Aunt Flora Cranford of Salisbury, Aunt Rubenia Bergen of Monroe, many cousins, and Rita’s dog Sadie and cat Ruthie. A memorial service will be held at a later date for Rita due out of respect for the seriousness of COVID19. Place, date, and time will be announced, advertised and people notified in ample time for everyone to make arrangements to attend. In place of flowers, Rita would want you to donate to Spencer Presbyterian Church, PO Box 4, Spencer, NC 28159. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Ammons family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.