Fern Ritter

Fern Ritter, 76, of Pampa, died Saturday, March 1, 2014, in Pampa. Vigil will be at 6:00 PM Monday, March 3, 2014 at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church. Mass will be at 2:00 PM Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church with Father Christopher Schwind, officiating. Following the mass, Mrs. Ritter’s body will be donated to Texas Tech School of Medicine. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Ritter was born Dec. 29, 1937 in Shamrock. She married Lilburn Forrest Ritter on Aug. 28, 1955 in Clayton, New Mexico. He preceded her in death on March 30, 2011. She was a resident of Borger for 32 years before moving to Pampa 26 years ago. In Borger, Fern was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, the Altar Society, and Christian Mothers. She was a former employee of the City of Pampa Police Dept., Recreation Dept., Pampa Landfill, the Social Security Administration, and she also offered employment training through state funded programs to senior citizens and as a job developer for various counties in the Texas Panhandle. She was a member of St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, the Women’s Council, the Women of the Cloth, and the Catechism Study Group. Fern’s spiritual gifts were generosity, steadfastness, trustworthiness, and grace. Her friendships were lifelong relationships, and she never met a stranger. She was preceded in death by her mother Nettie Lucille Cox, her father Harmie Bud Canady, and a brother, Harmie Gene Canady and one sister Virginia Louise Jones. Fern fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. Now there is in store for her the crown of righteousness which the Lord awarded to her on this day. Survivors include two sons, Allen Forrest Ritter and Bertha Zapata, Eric Wayne Ritter, all of Borger; four grandsons, Isaya Allen Forrest Ritter and Daniel Zapata, of Borger, and Zachary Ritter and Kenny Treakle, both of Columbus, OH; one granddaughter; Misty Zapata of Amarillo, and two great grandsons, Seth Treakle of Columbus, OH and Damon Zapata of Amarillo; and several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church and Women of the Cloth, 810 W. 23rd St., Pampa, TX 79065.