DODGE CITY – Rose Rita Margaret Horton, 77, died October 22, 2018 at Sun Porch, Dodge City. She was born on September 9, 1941 at Dodge City, the daughter of Raymond and Julia (Batt) Patterson.

Rita was born and raised in Dodge City and graduated from Dominican High School in Great Bend in 1959. She attended and graduated from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City with a bachelor's degree in Medical Technology in 1964. Rita's first job was working at St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita, where she met a handsome young airman, and on October 7, 1967, she married Franklin Larry Horton at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dodge City.

In the 50 years that Rita was a lab tech, she worked in many places, including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Sulphur, McAlester, and back to Dodge City in 1989, where she worked at Western Plains Medical Complex until retiring in 2006. However, being the hard worker that she was, Rita also began working at Edwards County Hospital as the lab manager while working full time at WPMC. While at Edwards County Hospital, Rita helped begin a yearly women's health fair, helping to provide free and reduced services and education to hundreds of women throughout her years there. In 2012, Rita finally decided to retire for good from her field.

Rita's talents were many. She enjoyed photography, sewing, baking, art, cake decorating, calligraphy, scouts, coaching, playing the accordion and piano. Rita was faithful to her catholic religion. As a young woman, she began studying to become a nun. Even though this was not her chosen path, she remained active in her church throughout her life. She taught religious classes when her kids were young, and after the kids were grown, she volunteered her time in the adoration chapel.

Rita is survived by two sons, Paul Horton and wife Janet of Edmond, Oklahoma and Nick Horton and wife Adriana of Blanchard, Oklahoma; three daughters, Natalie Horton of Valley Center, Amy Harvey and husband Brian of Dodge City, and Allison Horton of St. Paul, Minnesota; grandchildren, Andrew, Zach (Serina), Grace, Emily, Morgan, Blake, Logan, Sofia, Eli, and Nadia; one great grandchild arriving in December; two brothers, Donald and Thomas Patterson; one sister, Edna Ricker and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers: Marvin and Robert, four sisters: Margaret, Luella, Dorothy, and Carol, and husband, Frank Horton.

Vigil service will be held at 7:00 PM on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at Swaim Funeral Chapel. Memorial Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Friday, October 26, 2018 at 10:00 AM with Rev. Wesley Schawe presiding. Burial will follow at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery in Ft. Dodge. Book signing will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel on Thursday October 25, 2018 from Noon to 7:00 PM with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Meals on Wheels in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.