Rita Marie Mowen age 79, of Liberty died on Friday, January 16, 2015 at 5:55 a.m. in Blessing Hospital. Rita was born August 20, 1935 in Quincy, a daughter of Joseph and Helen (Bauman) Zanger. She married Jessie L. Mowen on May 2, 1953 in St. Brigid Catholic Church, he preceded her in death on April 13, 2014.
Rita was a homemaker. She was a graduate of Payson High School.
An active member of St. Brigid Catholic Church, Rita participated in many of the churches activities. She was a good seamstress, she enjoyed sewing and quilting. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great- grandmother.
FOUR CHILDREN: Bill Mowen and his wife Brenda of Payson, IL; Judy Rees of St. Joseph, MO; David Mowen and his wife LouAnn of Liberty; and Debbie Byrd and her significant other Tom Hill of Pleasant Hill.
TWELVE GRANDCHILDREN: Mackenzie Mowen, Lindsay Mowen, and Evan Mowen; Jessica Rees and Jeremy Rees and his wife Tiffany; Kelly Baucom and her husband John; Justin Mowen and Danielle Bunte and her husband Ross; Megan FloresJosh Benjamin and his wife Daisy; Jared Benjamin and Maci Benjamin.
ELEVEN GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: Bentleigh , Brooklyn and Elijah Rees; Carson and Declan Baucom; Anthony, Austin, Leiliana, Landen Benjamin, Amaya Flores and Dylan Benjamin.
TWO SISTERS, Carlene Crawford of Liberty; and Mildred Tournear of Quincy, and several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews also survive.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son Lyle Mowen; a brother Richard Zanger and a sister, Katherine Knuffman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Brigid Catholic Church by the Rev. Jeff Stone. Interment will be in St. Brigid Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at St. Brigid Church and Tuesday from 9:30 until the time of services at the church. Memorials are suggested to St. Brigid Catholic Church; Unity Point Hospice or to Blessing Foundation for HOSPICE. The Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.