Rita Jones, daughter of Maggie Shelton Barks Howell of Dexter and the late Henry Barks, was born on December 30, 1937 in Lilbourn, Missouri and departed this life on April 29, 2015 at her residence in Olathe, Kansas at the age of 77.

Mrs. Jones was of the Baptist faith.  She had worked as a waitress at the Hickory Log Restaurant in Dexter for many years and was a former resident of Dexter.

Besides her mother, she is survived by one son, Jeffery Thomas Cantrell of Rolla, Missouri; by one daughter, Sherri Lynne McVey and her husband Dave of Mound City, Kansas; by two brothers, Jerry W. Barks and his wife Sandy and Daniel B. Barks and his wife Estelle, all of Dexter; by two sisters, Peggy J. Laird and her husband Sam of Wappapello and Rosetta "Rosie" Robertson of Dexter; also by four grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, and by her companion of fifteen years, Jim Wampler.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by one brother, George O. Barks and by one sister, Betty L. Tanner.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, May 2, 2015 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. 

Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 1:00 P.M.with Rev. Kenneth Biggs officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Armstead Dowdy Cemetery in Dexter.