BELLA VISTA — Rita Jo Parker Callahan.

Because Rita asked Jesus to come into her heart 42 yrs. ago, when she took her last breath on Aug. 21, 2020, she entered heaven forever.

Because of her love for Jesus, she consciously made every aspect of her life reflect God and His Holy Love.

Rita was the kindest, sweetest, loving, most beautiful woman you’d ever want to meet and know.

She was highly talented and creative in many areas of her life, which she used for Jesus throughout her 40-plus years of ministry teaching Sunday school, conducting children’s choirs, radio ministries, jail ministries, nursing home ministries, and in-home ministries, singing in the Amazing Grace Ladies Gospel Choir, as well as playing the piano in such a talented and accomplished fashion that she was recruited to play for churches, weddings, and funerals all over Northwest Arkansas and the Ozarks.

And she did all this while being a full-time excellent employee for a major NWA corporation.

Rita loved the Ozarks where she was born, and she loved to refer to herself as an Arkansawyer Ozark Hillbilly!

Her individuality was refreshing and witnessed her unquestionable integrity and total commitment to Jesus Christ, to whom she always dedicated all her talents and time.

Rita had a quiet elegance about her that flowed from her love of Jesus which she often expressed in the many Gospel Songs and Hymns she composed and performed.

Rita and her husband of 151/ yrs, Michael, enjoyed 16/2 2 years of pastoring together in United Methodist churches throughout the Ozarks.

Throughout their time together they enjoyed having good clean Christian fun everywhere they went, be it with others, or just by themselves, alone and together.

Throughout her life Rita was one of the bravest and most courageously strong ladies in the face of many adversities and injustices, but she remained generous, gracious, and Godly throughout.

Rita was a lady who loved children and loved to grow flowers and had her first motorcycle at age 14!

Yes, Rita was full of life and light because she exhibited in abundance the full-Spirit of God in power, love, and kindness everyday of her life.

Rita treated everyone and everything with kindness and love, and therefore Rita went everywhere doing good.

It can very easily and truthfully be said that Rita was truly an exceptionally loving gift to us from God because every day Rita Jo Parker-Callahan showed us how a true Christian lives in every aspect of her life.

Rita will be missed, and we will see her again in heaven, and this time forever!

Fond memories and condolences may be shared at www.funeralmation.com .