Rita Barnes Roan

Rita Barnes Roan passed away on April 12, 2024, at the age of 89. She was born in Dallas, Texas on December 15, 1934, to Effie Marie (Groves) and William Arthur Barnes. She graduated from Garland High School in 1953. In 1954 she married Jackie Roan.

Rita was a cook, a dressmaker, a disciplinarian, a nurse and a teacher, as this is what all mothers are. She had a smile that was contagious.

Some may say Rita had nine lives. On several occasions the doctors would tell us that she probably wouldn’t make it much longer, or she most likely would not leave the hospital. Rita was very independent, and no one was going to tell her what to do. She was even going to leave us in her own time. Rita requested that she have a small family graveside service. She said that most all her close friends and family were gone and if they were still around, they would be too old to drive and too old to get around. She always said she outlived her skin and her time. Rita was one that fought getting old until the very end. She always cared about her appearance and loved getting her pedicures and hair done.

Rita always strove to live life to the fullest. Rita, also known by many as Mimi, enjoyed spending time with family and friends more than anything. She loved reminiscing about old times. Taking her to doctor appointments in Dallas, she would love to cut through the neighbors and tell you about the times she grew up on the streets of Dallas and how her family lived. She loved cooking good ole country food and, in her eyes, no one knew how to cook but her. No one loved ketchup more than Rita. If she didn’t like something she was eating, she’d just pour ketchup all over it, even things she loved she’d pour ketchup on it. One thing Rita never did without was Dr Pepper in the mornings. Sometimes she’d sip on it all day, but it never went to waste. Before Rita lost her eyesight she loved going to the movies and she loved spending time with and walking her sweet dog, Poppie. She loved playing Keno, Scrabble, and especially 42. It didn’t matter who she was playing against, she was in the game to win, and she was not a good loser.

Rita loved animals and would do anything to help any animal in need or help anyone that needed help with their pet. In 1991 Jackie and Rita started the non-profit organization, Rowlett Animal Adoption Center. They, together with many volunteers, saved many animals by finding loving homes for them and helped stop the overpopulation of animals by having them spayed and neutered. Rita and Jackie had their own share of animals through the years. They provided loving homes to countless cats, horses, and especially dogs.

Rita worked for Gillette for many years and after that she drove school buses for Garland. She loved the job of seeing that her kids, as she called them, got to and from school.

Rita lived through two fires, and the tornado of December 2015. Even though catastrophe hit, this did not stop her from attending service on Saturday night at Lake Pointe Church Rockwall, where she was a member. Rita was always trying to get people involved in church. She said it didn’t matter where you went so long as you went.

Later in life when Rita lost her eyesight to glaucoma and macular degeneration when she’d go to feeling sorry for herself and complain, she would say, “I know there are other people worse off than I am.”

Rita is survived by immediate family, son, Craig Roan and wife, Cina; daughter, Caprice Smith; grandchildren, Cody Roan and girlfriend, Rachel Howell; Rae Lea Smith; Alyse Warren and husband, Jeremy; great grandchildren, Kalib Wheeler, Rowan, Lennon and Wyatt Warren.

Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Jackie; parents, W.A. and Effie Barnes; sister, Wylene and husband, James Taft, and so many other family members and friends.