Rita Mae Coakley

April 25, 1931 - September 19, 2021

Rita M. Coakley, 90 of Kearney passed away Sunday, September 19, 2021 at St. John's Good Samaritan Home in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at Kearney First United Methodist Church with Rev. Matt Fowler officiating. Interment will follow at Prairie Center Cemetery at Haven's Chapel. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Rita was born April 25, 1931 in Arcadia, Nebraska to Martin and Mildred (Elliott) Benson. On June 30, 1947, Rita was united in marriage to Dale L. Coakley in Phillipsburg, Kansas. The couple lived and farmed near Comstock, NE. Rita served as Director of the Grand Island YWCA for several years. She also taught in Crawford and St. Edwards. Rita later served as the Pastor of the Franklin United Church of Christ and filled in as needed for several other churches in the area. She enjoyed doing arts and crafts, doing cross stich, leading bible studies and being outdoors watching wildlife. Left to cherish her memory are her sons, David Coakley and wife, Nadine of Nixa, MO, Daniel Coakley and wife, Mary of Hastings, and Gene Coakley and wife, Nancy of Kearney; grandchildren, Crystal Coakley, Wendy Evans and husband, Michael, Randi Genuchi and husband, Kyle, Dustin Coakley and wife, April, Justin Coakley and wife, Barb, David Coakley and Nicolas Coakley; great grandchildren, Gabriel Evans, Nathaniel Evans, Madelyn and Roselyn Genuchi, Samuel Coakley and Olive and Frances Coakley; sister, Marilyn Hyatt of Broken Bow; and special family friend, Carol Wolters. Rita was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dale Coakley; daughter, Laurita; and grandson twins, Jason and Christopher; great grandson, Beau.