Rita Joyce Cummings , 95, was born December 24, 1930 to Claus Leroy and Orpha Dell Hoffine in Murdock, Kansas. Rita was the oldest of 11 children;

Rita Joyce, Claus Leroy Jr "Bud", Elbert Ellis, Forest Ray, Homer Chester, James Daniel "Jimmy", Ruth Ann, Rosemary Lynn, Marjorie Sue, John David and Carol Dell.

Rita spent most of her younger years in Wichita, KS attending Riverview school. Because Rita was the oldest, she helped raise her siblings and started cooking at a very young age. She picked the names of her three younger sisters from the radio soap operas -- Majorie, Ruth Ann, and Rosemary.

She also learned to sew and taught Rosemary as well. She made the sisters' crop tops and bloomers as swimsuits. Rita also grew into a very good housekeeper.

She married Alexander Euen Cummings Jr on October 26, 1948. Rita and Alex had five boys; Vernon Lloyd, Kenneth Allen, Gary Neil, Ronald Bruce and Randy Dean.

When Orpha passed, Rita stepped into the role of the family matriarch. This was a natural transition, not just because she was the oldest, but because Rita was a kind, thoughtful person who was a good sister & cousin, good neighbor, and great Mom. Rita was a homemaker; she never ventured outside the home for work. She took good care of her home and kids. She had lots of good friends in the neighborhood and church. She knew all her neighbors up and down the street. She was highly respected by a lot of people.

If you wanted to know anyone's birthday . . . . just ask Rita, she would know. She sewed little dresses for relatives and neighbor kids and since she had 5 boys she used them as her models. There are stories that Vern and Ron were her models and there are pictures of Ron in one of her creations.

Rita was a great cook. Some of her best meals included meat loaf or fried chicken with apple or apricot pie and homemade ice cream. Rita's fried chicken was as good as her Mom's. She was also an excellent gardener; that was one of her passions. She always had a nice garden with a strawberry patch and fruit trees.

Faith Baptist Church has been a cornerstone of Rita's life for decades; she was a devoted Christian. She was a Sunday school teacher for many years, developing relationships with the children and they loved her long into their adult lives. With her sewing skills, she was also active in the quilting group for many years as well.

Family was the most important to Rita --- she loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She talked about them all the time and was quick to share pictures of the little great grand babies. She was very happy to be a Great Grandma.

Rita is preceded in death by her husband Alex, her parents and siblings:

Bud, Ellis, Homer, Ray, Jimmy and John. In addition to her son Kenny.

Surviving family members:

Sisters: Ruth Ann (Gary) Bolton of Kingman, KS; Rosemary Woodson of Wichita, KS; Marjorie (Cody) Cramer of Mound Valley, KS; and Carol (Mike) Hearne of Wichita, KS.

Sister-in-law: Joyce Hoffine of Wichita, KS.

Children: Vernon (Sheryl) of Andover, KS; Gary of Benton, KS; Ron of Andover, KS and Randy of Andover, KS.

Grandchildren: Chad (Amy) Cummings of Kansas City, MO; Shelby Cummings of Bel Aire, KS; Kyle (Erin) Cummings of Houston, TX; Jackie Cummings of Wichita, KS and Jamie Cummings of Wichita KS.

Great grandchildren: Dylan, Kollin, Calvin, Charlotte and Alexandria

And many more nieces, nephews and family members.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Faith Baptist Church, 417 W. Central Ave., Andover with funeral service held there as well on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Rita will then be laid to rest at Bruno Township Cemetery in Andover next to her husband Alex.

Family requests memorial donations in Rita's honor be made to Faith Baptist Church, 417 W. Central Ave., Andover, KS 67002