Rita Elizabeth Buffington
Rita Buffington, born Rita Elizabeth McDevitt, died at her Moffit Gulch home in Bozeman, Montana on Sept. 16, 2006. She was 56 years old.
Rita was born in Norfolk, Va. in 1950, the first daughter of Joseph and Kathleen McDevitt. She grew up in a large family with nine brothers and one sister. The McDevitts remained a close-knit family who enjoyed many reunions over the years. Rita will be dearly missed by all her family.
She met her future husband, George Buffington, on April 10, 1994 while on a visit to the hot pots near Gardiner, Montana. They were married that same year on Sept. 24 and shared 12 wonderful years together at their Moffit Gulch home outside Bozeman.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Bryan and Kathleen McDevitt.
Rita is survived by: her devoted husband, George Buffington, Bozeman; her mother-in-law Teresa Dixon, Bozeman, a sister, Gena Cameron, Ninety Six, S.C.; nine brothers, including Jeffrey McDevitt, Kailua Kona, Hawaii; Paul McDevitt, Springfield, lll.; Rodney McDevitt, Wake Forest, N.C.; John McDevitt, Herndon, Va.; David McDevitt, Hilton Head, S.C.; Joseph McDevitt, Alpharetta, Ga.; Richard McDevitt, Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Edward McDevitt, Izmir, Turkey; and Gerald McDevitt, Charleston, S.C.; stepmother, Mitzi McDevitt, half-sister, Lisa Minshew, aunt, Rosemary Christie, McLean,Va.; aunt, Betty McDevitt, Marion, Ill; one cousin, Jeanine Christie, Vienna, Va.; and many nieces and nephews.
Rita was a registered nurse for 30 years. She began her career in 1976 working at the Harbor View Medical Center Burn Unit in Seattle, Wash. In 1978 she moved to Bozeman to attend Montana State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1979. She accepted a position with ARAMCO and worked as an emergency room nurse in Saudi Arabia for 10 years. Upon her return to Bozeman in 1992, she worked in the Bozeman/Livingston area until 2006.
Rita was a remarkable woman and an excellent nurse who will be sorely missed by her family and her many friends. Rita loved her garden and beautiful home. She enjoyed knitting. Rita especially loved cooking gourmet meals with her husband. Rita was a passionate and accomplished golfer who loved to travel, but most of all loved spending time at home with her husband George and kittie cat Dizzie at Moffit Gulch.
A memorial gathering will be held in Lindley Park at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter, 2125 North Rouse, Bozeman, MT 59715. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service.