KELSO, Mo. -- Rita Drury passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her home on the family farm outside of Kelso Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at the age of 89.

She was born July 13, 1931, outside of Commerce, Missouri, to George and Alvina Compas Vetter.

On Feb. 21, 1950, she married Thomas J. Drury at St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton, Missouri. Once married, the couple moved to a small house outside of Kelso, where they lived until moving to the Drury family farm in 1953. Thomas passed away May 22, 1970, and Rita continued running the family farm and raising their six children. Their daughter, Susan LeGrand, and son, William Drury, also preceded her in death.

Rita is survived by four grown children, Joseph (Deborah) Drury of Kelso, Mary Drury of Cape Girardeau, Robert (Sandy) Drury Scott City and Margaret Drury of St. Louis. She has 15 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, 10 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, who called her "Aunt Ritee" and will miss her greatly.

Rita has a surviving brother, Alfred Vetter; sister, Mary (Bob) Todt; sisters-in-law, Janet (Vernon) Vetter, Victoria (Ted) Hahn, Shirley (Charles) Drury and Wanda (Jim) Drury; and brothers-in-law, David Pfeiffer and Jerry (Kathleen) Drury.

In addition to her parents, husband and two children, Rita was also preceded in death by her brother, Vernon Vetter; sister, Sister Loretta Vetter, O.S.F.; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Jean Vetter, Patricia and Theon Schlosser Jr., Charles Drury, Ann and Robert Drury, Jim Drury, Mary Jane and Martin Jansen, and Nancy Pfeiffer.

She was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Parish in Kelso and a member of St Anne's Ladies Sodality. She loved going to church and continued to attend Mass until it became too difficult for her to get around easily. She was loved and will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. May God's love shine on her and may she rest in peace now free of pain.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. Parish prayers will be at 6:30 p.m., followed by Knights of Columbus service.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso with the Rev. Michael Casteel as celebrant.

Burial will be in St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery in Kelso.