Mary Catherine RICKETTS, 74, lifelong resident of Osawatomie, died Monday afternoon, Oct. 4, 1999, at Heritage Manor nursing center in Osawatomie. She was an Alzheimer's victim and had a long battle with the disease.

The sixth of eight children of Joseph Alexander and Minnie Morrow Cortner, she was born Feb. 23, 1925 at Osawatomie. She graduated from Osawatomie High School with the Class of 1943.

She lived her entire life in Osawatomie, except for a brief period following high school when she worked at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.

She was married Sept. 19, 1944 at the Methodist Church parsonage in Osawatomie to Glenn W. Ricketts. They became the parents of three children.

After the children were in school, Mrs. Ricketts worked for the J. C. Penney Co., the American State Bank and First Federal Savings and Loan before retiring from there in 1981.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church for more than 50 years. She sang in the church choir until ill health prevented her from attending. She was active in United Methodist Women, Busy Bees, was a Task Force leader and was a member of the Order of Eastern Star No. 26 and Delta Epsilon.

She was known as a loving and devoted wife and mother, a shining star to her family.

Those surviving are her husband, Glenn Ricketts of the home; a daughter, Ramalee "Ramie" Beck of Gladstone, MO; two sons, Steve Ricketts of Olathe and Stan Ricketts of Kansas City, MO; a brother, Charles Cortner of Osawatomie; two sister, Dorothy Heckart of Osawatomie and Rita Hayden of Enid, OK; eight grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

Viewing will be after 1 p.m. Thursday at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie, with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be in the Osawatomie Cemetery. Grandchildren will be pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Published in the Miami Co. Republic, October 6, 1999