Rita Elizabeth Tolley

Rita Elizabeth Tolley, 38, of Fort Smith, passed away on February 7, 2016 in Fort Smith. She was born October 1, 1977 in Fort Smith to Phillip Lloyd and Shirley Ann Allen Wood. Rita had a deep and profound relationship with her God, through prayer and the keeping of her faith regardless of what life might have thrown her way. She began her Christian faith at Harvest Time Tabernacle and later became a member of Christ the King Catholic Church. Rita was a graduate of Northside High School, she attended UAFS, and was a graduate of Arkansas Tech University. She taught in both the Fort Smith Public School System and the Fayetteville Public School System. Rita was a former employee of Sparks Regional Medical Center as well as Dillard's Department Store and Sears. Rita would tell you that the center of life was with her daughters, Mary and Alexandra. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Elizabeth Byrd of Rogers, Ark. and Alexandra Madison Tolley of Fayetteville; her parents, Phillip L. Wood of Fort Smith and Shirley Ann Wood of Fort Smith; three sisters, Cheryl McMickle of Marianna, Ark., Hydie Hale of Rogers, Ark., and Billie Jean Nelligan of Fort Smith; three brothers, Daniel "Web" Merry of Van Buren, George Fotenopulos of Houston, Texas, and Mike Fotenopulos of Springdale, Ark.; and grandmother, Corrine Allen of Van Buren, Ark. Funeral service will be Friday, February 12, 2016 at 1 p.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in Forest Park Cemetery all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Daniel "Web" Merry, Mike Fotenopulos, Timothy Hale, Jason Nelligan, David Wells, Fred "Boone" Allen, George Fotenopulos and Bill Allen. The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 5-7 p.m. Memorials may be made to Western Arkansas Counseling & Guidance Center 3111 South 70th Fort Smith, Ark. 72903. To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.