Rita Dawn Meade

Rita Dawn Meade, 60, passed away on April 25, 2016, at home in Wasilla. Rita was born May 12, 1955, to Wallace and Clara Somerville in Choteau, Montana, and was the third of eight children. Rita grew up in Lehi, Utah and graduated from Lehi High School in 1973. Her family moved to Anchorage, Alaska after her first year of college where she worked as a switchboard operator at the Captain Cook Hotel. Rita married Robert James Meade on February 6, 1976, in the Manti Temple in Manti, Utah, and raised six children. They recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

Bob and Rita lived in Montana and Utah before settling in Alaska. Rita helped support her family working as a childcare provider, real estate agent and a property manager, as well as owning a floral business while living in Kotzebue. Rita began her career with the State of Alaska Court System as the Clerk of Court and Magistrate while living in Kotzebue. After returning to Anchorage, Rita worked as supervisor of the in court section and then became a judicial assistant to a Superior Court Judge. She retired in September 2015.

Rita loved crafting, traveling, gardening and breeding her cherished Maltese dogs. Most of all, Rita loved spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren.

Rita is preceded in death by her husband, Robert J. Meade; her father, Wallace Somerville; sister-in-law Carol Somerville; brother-in-laws, Brennen Fleener and Cecil Meade. She is survived by her mother, Clara Somerville; brothers, Charles, Andrew (Melinda), Jae (Tova), Kerry (Andra), and John (Kristen); sisters, Sonnet Calhoun (Phillip) and Melody Anderson (Brett); her sons, Ryan (Heather), Jeremy (Melissa), Casey (Zoe) and Jason (Miriah); her daughters, Tina Dory (Joe) and Alona Fink (Dirk); and her 22 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2016, at the Wasilla Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 821 East Delwood Drive. A viewing will be held at 1 p.m. with services beginning at 2 p.m. Interment will follow the services at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery at 4 p.m.

Arrangements were under the direction of Valley Funeral Home, Wasilla Chapel.