April 18, 1942 – August 1, 2024

Rita Marie Stewart Mezzino passed peacefully from this life on Thursday, August 1, 2024, surrounded with faith in her heart and her family by her side.

She was born April 18, 1942, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Charles Louis Stewart and Lucille Arlene Brooks.  After relocating, growing up, and graduating as Salutatorian from high school in Sweetwater, Texas, Rita would attend and graduate from Texas Christian University in 1964.  On June 12, 1965, Rita married her husband, Michael, and the family moved to Austin, then Georgetown, and ultimately to Friendswood, Texas by 1974, where she devoted her life to raising and caring for her family.  Always in pursuit of lifelong learning, Rita attended Alvin Community College and took every course available in Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. She continued her interests in chemistry at the University of Houston – Clear Lake, where she took a battery of career aptitude tests which identified “Librarian” and “Optometrist” as the most fitting career paths based on her interests and her academics.  Then, from 1983 to 1988, Rita again went back to school and graduated second in her class from the University of Houston College Of Optometry, after which she would own and operate her very successful Optometry practice in Friendswood, until retiring in 1998.  Alvin Community College would later recognize Rita as a Distinguished Alumna following her career and community success.  Following her retirement from practice, Rita cherished her time with her family and friends, enjoyed traveling, and continued her journey of ever-increasing faith with many involvements within her church communities, including the choir and her Community Bible Study group.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles Stewart, Lucille Byrd, and Lucille’s husband, Charles E. Byrd (m. 1961).  She is survived by her husband, Michael, with whom she would share a beautiful 59 years in devotion together, and brother, Martin Stewart and wife Trudy.  Rita’s children include daughter, Marjorie Eastman and husband, David of Dallas, son, Christopher and wife, Nancy of Danbury, and daughter, Meredith Martinez and wife, Jess of League City.  Rita’s grandchildren include Mason, Claire, and Seth Eastman, Camren and wife, Arin Mezzino, Cole Mezzino and fiancée, Cristina, Kennon Weinkauf, Kelsey Owens and husband, Jacob, Carter Hennan, Nicholas Martinez, and Jessie Martinez.  Rita would also enjoy nine great-grandchildren, three nieces, one nephew, and numerous cousins and their respective families.

Funeral services will occur and are under the care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 N. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas 77546.

A reception and visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at 12:00 noon, followed by services at 1:00 pm with Rev. Dr. Craig S. King, Sr. officiating.  The service will be followed by a private, family interment at Forest Park East Cemetery in League City, Texas.  Grandchildren will serve as honorary pall bearers.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites contributions to the American Cancer Society (https://donate.cancer.org) or the American Heart Association (www.heart.org).