ANNA, Ill. -- Maurice E. Ritchey, 78, of Anna died Sunday, April 26, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Dec. 10, 1919, at Cypress, son of John L. and Ruby Lee Morgan Ritchey. He and Kathleen M. Hartline were married Oct. 9, 1940.

He was a retired distributor for Sealtest Dairy and was a member of the Anna Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Kent Ritchey of Dongola; two daughters, Phyllis Capron and Sharon Oliver, both of Cypress; a brother, Glenn Ritchey of Elgin; five sisters, Marjune Corzine of Dongola, Marjorie Schweiger of Chicago, Betty Clark of Minneapolis, Esther Tite of Hammond, Ind., and Joyce Langston of Vienna; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A grandson preceded him in death.

Friends may call at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and on Wednesday until the funeral hour.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. John Shelton and Joe Johnson will officiate with burial in the Cypress Masonic Cemetery.