Rita Major

Waynesville, Rita Major passed away on Thursday, August 16, 2018. Rita was away from her beloved home in Quail Cove, NC, and living with family in the Orlando area when she died peacefully.

Born on August 21, 1924, in Elgin, IL, to Maisie and Louie Andersen, Rita raised her own family with her first husband, Dale Ramft, in Goldenrod, Florida before moving to the Waynesville area. A fiercely independent woman, she built a home and a wonderful life in the mountains of Quail Cove until a chance meeting at her 50th high school reunion allowed her to rekindle an old flame with Jack Major. Jack came home with her to the mountains, they married, and were never apart for more than a few hours until his death in November 2012. Rita will be fondly remembered for her love of and dedication to mountain living as well as for never having met a stranger.

She is proceeded in death by her beloved husband, Jack; brother and sister-in-law, Larry & Eloise Andersen; 2 daughters, Carol Neel and Linda Ramft; grandson, Laurence Martin. She is survived by her daughter, Donna Everly, and grandchildren: Mary Rezende, Donna (John) Kirtland, Charlotte Smith, Jon (Tina) Aulenbach, Emily (Joe) Lemos, Lia (Joseph) Zelazny, and Sarah Neel. Additionally, nephews, nieces, 8 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren and many dear friends will miss her.

A funeral mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 31, 2018 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Waynesville, North Carolina with Father Richard Sutter officiating. The family and close friends will gather for burial at Upper Crabtree Community Cemetery immediately following.

The care of Rita has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes and an online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wellsfuneralhome.com

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