Rhonda Faye Rictor, 67, passed away Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, Oregon following a brief illness due to cancer.

Rhonda was born Oct. 26, 1940, to Charles Daryl Downing and Opal Fern (Lovitt) Downing in Ottawa, Kansas.   The family moved to Burnt Woods, Oregon in the late 1940s and later to Corvallis, where Rhonda attended school.

She married Larry T. Rictor on March 25, 1961, in Monroe.   Rhonda worked for 23 years as a revenue agent for Oregon State University, retiring in 1998.   Mr. Rictor retired in 2000 following 24 years as a manager and supervisor for Green & White Rock Products of Corvallis.

Rhonda is survived by her mother, Opal F. Downing of Searcy, Arkansas; her husband; three sons and daughters-in-law, Greg and Lisa Rictor of Monroe, Daryl and Heidi Rictor of Antelope, CA, and Tony and Sherri Rictor of Monroe.   She is also survived by eight grandchildren and four siblings and spouses including Dwayne and Sandy Downing of Monmouth, Judy and Gary Schrieber of Klamath Falls, Charles and Linda Downing of Eugene, and Daris and Jack Meier of Searcy, Ark.   A sister, Donna Andresen, preceded Rhonda in death.

Graveside services were held Monday, Dec. 10, 2007 at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Corvallis.

Her laugh was her trademark - everyone who knew her found her laughter unique, entertaining, and contagious!   She was smart, witty, and if you asked for her opinion, she'd tell you the truth - even if you didn't want to hear it!   Her words to live by were simply, "Live well, laugh often, and love much!"

She will be deeply missed by all those who loved her!

We want to express our sincere thanks to those people who have contacted us over the last month with their prayers, words of encouragement and friendship at the passing of our dear wife, mother, and grandmother, Rhonda Rictor.   She was happy to share her life and love with her husband and sons with their growing families including eight grandchildren.   We will miss her infectious laugh, her wonderful sense of humor and the wisdom she imparted when we needed her comfort and advice.

While she has left us for a time, we know she still watches our kids at their ball games, celebrates our successes and loves us with all the passion she could show.   We count ourselves as lucky to have had a wife and mother like Rhonda to be a helpmate, a friend, a counselor, and mentor.   She had many friends as evidenced by the number of people who attended the simple graveside memorial service she had asked for.

Thanks to all of you for honoring her and recognizing the importance of her in all our lives.

Her husband, sons, and family members