Rita M. Spear

Rita M. Spear, 73 of Massillon, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at her home. She was born on August 18, 1943 in Massillon and was the daughter of the late Charles and Ruth (Berens) Yingling. Rita was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. In 1961 she graduated from Central Catholic High School. She worked for 23 years at the Ohio Water Company (Aqua Ohio) as an administrative secretary. She enjoyed being with her family. She was a nature lover and she enjoyed watching birds and butterflies. Throughout the years, she raised and loved her 5 dogs. She was a care giver with a huge heart and kind soul, helping everyone that needed assistance. She enjoyed cooking, baking and traveling. Her latest hobby was embroidering dish towels that she would give to people as gifts. She and her husband Larry were avid walkers. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson Evan Spear. She is survived by her husband, Larry G. Spear, with whom she just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Also survived by her daughter Lori (Jeff) Bricker, her son C. Scott (Anita) Spear, her grandchildren, Brittany Anthony, Tiffany Slutz, Dean Bricker, Alec, Lilli and Ted Spear, her great grandchildren, Connor and Parker and her siblings, Joanne Gourley, Donald Yingling, Chris (Kitty) Yingling and Tim (Debbie) Yingling. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Raymond Paul officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the Paquelet Funeral Home on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. Memorials in Rita’s name may be made to St. Joseph’s St. Vincent DePaul Society.