November 9, 1921 - June 5, 2020
Irene Rhea was born on November 9th, 1921, in Birch Tree, Missouri. She was the second of eight children born to Frank and Jenny Ledbetter. Irene was married on April 3, 1941, to the love of her life, Lloyd Rhea. After Lloyd left the Army following his honorable service in WWII, Lloyd and Irene lived in various states, finally settling in California in the 1950's. Irene excelled at everything that she did. She worked to put her husband through business college and helped him when he started his own business, Best Roofing Company, in April of 1964, working until they retired in 1984. Irene ran the office portion of the company, answering the phones and bookkeeping for the business, while raising their 3 children and being an excellent Homemaker. Irene loved being a wife, mother and grandmother and will be remembered always for her delicious meals and wonderful desserts, that included her excellent homemade pies. Irene also was an excellent seamstress, making dresses for her daughter and herself, as well as quilts and comforters. Irene was the Head Room Mother in each of her 3 children’s classes in elementary school, making sure that there were always wonderful homemade cupcakes with her buttercream icing and other wonderful treats for each child in the class. Along with her husband, Irene was very involved in baseball and the teams that he managed. She was Secretary of the Little League and was the scorekeeper for her son’s Little League and Senior League baseball games, as well as her daughter’s softball games. When summertime arrived, Irene would be out gathering fresh fruits and vegetables to can and freeze and make homemade pickles, jellies and jams for the family. Irene played board games on the weekends, pairing up with her best friend, Marge, to play games of Aggravation against Lloyd and Marge's husband, Alfred. When Lloyd passed away in 1986, Irene became active in the First Baptist Church, cooking alongside her sister- in-law, Betty, for Wednesday night church suppers. Irene was an excellent Pinochle player and played 2 to 3 days a week at various homes and senior centers. Irene was the light of her children’s lives, as well as her fur babies, Rocky, Socks and Gia. To say that she will be missed does not capture the loss that they all feel. The light has dimmed here on earth with her loss but continues to shine bright in eternity.
Irene is survived by her son Steven, of Williams, California, son James (Victoria) and daughter Carol (Mick), both of Stockton, California, her brother Frank (Delores), of Hermiston, Oregon, her grandchildren, Jason, Tiffany, Cole, Cory and Brannen, as well as 6 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and her best friend, Marjorie Benton. Irene was pre-deceased by her husband Lloyd, parents Frank and Jenny, her 3 brothers, Lloyd, Edward, and Delmar, and 3 sisters, Edna, Lucille and Florence.
At Irene's request, no services will be held.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Rhea family.
