Rita Arlene Irish

Rita Puckett Irish, 73, resident of Cairo, Illinois died June 26, 2016 at her home. She was born January 18, 1943 in Paducah, Kentucky to the late Robert Burnell and Eleazar Thomas Anderson Puckett.

She was the valedictorian of Sumner High School class of 1961 and continued her education at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois where she reached her Master's in Education. She was employed at Meridian Elementary School for 33 years retiring in 1997. She continued in education by being a substitute teacher until 2015.

She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cairo.

On August 14, 1972 she was united in marriage to William Irish who survives.

In addition to her husband she is survived by two sons, Darrell Andrew Irish and William Stacey Irish of Cairo,Illinois, one daughter, Arlene Nicole Irish of Fredericksburg, Virginia, one step son, Kenneth Irish of Portland, Oregon, one step daughter, Denise Gee-Hundley of Birmingham, Alabama, two sisters, Arneice Williams of Omaha, Nebraska and Claudette Collier of Ullin, Illinois, and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

Friends may call Tuesday, July 5, 2016 from 10:00 A. M. until the funeral hour of 11:00 A. M. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cairo with Father Michael Christopher Mugisa-Mujule. Interment will follow in the National Cemetery in Mounds.