Obituary of Rita K. Travers

Rita K. (Murray) Travers, age 87, of Whitman passed away March 10, 2012, at St. Joseph's Manor in Brockton Saturday evening surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late John R. Travers, former Whitman Chief of Police, with whom she shared 51 years of marriage. She will be forever missed by her six children and their families, Jane Morgan and her husband Donald of Hudson, Kathleen Marini and her companion Donald Ellis of Hanson, John Travers and his wife Marie of Plymouth, Timothy Travers former Fire Chief of Whitman and his wife Carolyn of Whitman, Joanne Ross and her husband Jeffrey of Whitman, Michael Travers and his wife Renee of Hanson. She was the beloved Gramma of Matthew and Meg Morgan, Patricia Marini Glen, John "JJ", Adam, Jillian, Patrick and Kelly Travers. She was the great-grandmother of Lizabeth Glenn. Rita was aunt to many nieces and nephews and their children. She was the beloved daughter of the late William J. and Winifred (Bailey) Murray and was predeceased by her brother, Paul W. Murray, and her sister, Dorothea Dugan. A longtime resident of Whitman, Rita was born on Temple Street in Whitman and graduated from Whitman High School in 1942. During World War II, she worked at the Whitman Fire Station as a typist for Civilian Defense. She worked as a waitress at the Toll House Restaurant in Whitman for many years and retired from the Whitman School Department, where she worked as a teacher's aide for many years. Rita courageously batted Multiple Sclerosis since her diagnosis in 1985. Prior to her illness, she enjoyed knitting, making braided rugs, and baking. She was well-known by her children's friends for her Toll House cookies. Rita was an avid fan of the Red Sox and the Patriots. She enjoyed traveling with her late husband and was proud to have traveled to Ireland on four occasions. She was a communicant of Holy Ghost Church, a Girl Scout leader, a lifetime member of the Whitman Mother's Club, and member of the Police Wifes Club. Visiting hours in the MacKinnon Funeral Home, 760 Washington St., Whitman, Wednesday 4-9 p.m. Funeral Mass in Holy Ghost Church Thursday morning at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. Interment in St. James Cemetery, Whitman. The family would like donations in Rita's memory to St. Joseph's Manor, 215 Thatcher St., Brockton, MA 02301, or Whitman Food Pantry, c/o Holy Ghost Parish, 518 Washington St., Whitman, MA 02382. The family would like to thank St. Joseph's Manor for all the wonderful care that was shown to Rita over the past eight years. For directions or to sign the guest book, visit www.mackinnonfuneral.com.