Rita C. Yeager, 76, of rural Matthews, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 13, 2025, at Dupont Hospital in Fort Wayne.
She was born on July 26, 1949, in Huntington County, to Fred J. and Sarah K. (Homier) Covey and attended high school in the Fort Wayne school system.
Rita enjoyed helping set up and conduct auctions and loved to play games, especially Yahtzee. She enjoyed watching movies and would always stay up late to finish a movie, before going to bed. She had a love for animals and a special place in her heart for her dog, Ronnie, whom she had for many years, before he passed on.
Rita and David Earl Yeager were married on Feb. 2, 1995 in Arizona, and he preceded her in death on Nov. 7, 1999.
Survivors include her siblings, Judy C. Alford of Bluffton, Chuck (Karen) Covey, Gary (Carol) Covey and Mike (Alice) Covey, all of Fort Wayne. She is also survived by a special cousin, Chuck Homier of Huntington; a very close friend, Becky Swathwood of Matthews; and many nieces and nephews.
Rita is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Keith, Bob and Jim Covey; and two sisters, Carolyn Covey and Jean Ann Frain.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Au. 18, 2025, at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton with Pastor Mathew Gullion officiating. Burial will follow at Van Buren Cemetery. Friends may visit the family from 10 a.m. to the time of the service on Monday at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lemler family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can share online condolences with the family at www.thomarich.com.