Rita Smith Heard

Mrs. Rita Smith Heard, 95, of Anahuac, Texas, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, at St. James House in Baytown, Texas.
Rita was born on Aug. 22, 1919, in Crowley. A resident of Anahuac for 56 years, she had been a teacher’s aide in the Special Education Department at Anahuac Junior High School for 10 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifton Ashton and Annie Gremillion Smith; husband, John T. Heard; and son, Allen George Heard.
She is survived by sons, John T. Heard Jr. and wife, Barbara, of Kirksville, Missouri, Stephen A. Heard and wife, Maureen, of Seattle, Washington, and James D. (Jim) Heard and wife, Susan, of Yorktown, Virginia; daughters, Linda Parish and husband, John Howard, of Anahuac, Anne Heard, of Houston, Eugenia Heard, of Anahuac, and Marie Heard, of Houston.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Cherie Sambrano and husband, Troy, of League City, Texas, Ashli Bertrand and husband, Lane, of Anahuac, Stephen A. Heard Jr. and wife, Jennifer, of Tacoma, Washington, John T. Heard III and wife, Kristel, of Sammamish, Washington, Stephanie Heard of Seattle, Washington, and Christopher, Andrew, Katelyn and Samantha Heard, all of Yorktown, Virginia; and great-grandchildren, Cameron, Sydney and Brady Bertrand, Isabel and Sofia Heard, and Cayden and Kenna Sambrano; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Light Catholic Church in Anahuac. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Anahuac Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the caregivers, nurses and staff at St. James House, Audrey George and Joann Alexander for their excellent care, Dr. Leonides and Lois Corner for their many years of exemplary care and concern. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. James House, 5800 West Baker Road, Baytown, Texas, 77520-1694, or the charity of choice.
Funeral services are under the direction of Sterling Funeral Home, 1201 South Main, Anahuac, TX, 77514. Condolences can be sent online to www.sterlingfuneralhome.com.