Rita Ballew Loucks (née, Rita Rowena Ballew) was born December 23, 1933, in Pursley, Texas to Ovie Burns (b. 1913) and Robert Ballew (b. 1911) and was raised by her mother in and around the cities of Corsicanna and Waco, TX, in close proximity to her maternal grandparents, along with a younger sister, Myra Mahoney, a younger brother, Richard Gene Mahoney (1940-1994) and an aunt quite close in age, Fran Burns.

A woman of staunch independence, she had quickly adapted to a level of proficiency in secretarial and office management skills before living for a time with two likewise-ambitious Texas girlfriends in the big city of San Diego (and the secretarial-pool apartment life that entailed), before meeting, marrying and settling in to raise a family with Harry Dee Loucks (b. September 19, 1936), ultimately following in this capacity, to make homes and offer her invaluable managerial (and often research) support whilst raising their two sons, Jeff Dee Laux (b. December 7, 1963) and Chadley David Loucks (b. April 17, 1968) in the cities of Los Angeles, CA, Cincinnati, OH, Philadelphia, PA, and, ultimately, Hot Springs, AR.

Following their divorce, Rita established another thirty-year period of staunch independence (and condo life) in Houston, TX, ultimately retiring there after nearly three decades with Rice University, and relocating to the relative calm and quiet of Little Rock four years ago. Here she again shared a city of residence with her older son, Jeff, and was recently joined by her younger son, Chad, who has relocated from a long residence in Austin, TX. Rita Loucks is survived by these two sons, by the sister Myra of Waco, TX and aunt Fran of Corsicanna, TX, as well as by a half-brother, Bill Ballew of Houston, TX, and a half-sister, Jerrie Ballew of Austin, TX.

Any memorial funds or charitable donations may be made in her name to OUR HOUSE, 302 E. Roosevelt Dr., Little Rock, AR 72205, ph: (501) 374-7386, ext. 214