Sally Lou Rife
September 25, 1933 ~ February 9, 2012
Sally Lou Rife, 78, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, February 9, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids. Private family graveside services will be held at Campbell Cemetery, Bertram. Survivors include her sons, Don (Deb) Rife, Kevin (Jill) Rife, and Jim Rife; daughters, Cheryl (Mike) Martinez, Jackie (Steve) Aldrich, and Mary (Ed) Yerkes; 16 grandchildren; and 22 great grandchildren. Sally was born September 25, 1933, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Goodwater) Hathaway. She was married to Ernest James Rife for 19 years, later divorcing. She was a homemaker and enjoyed playing bingo and spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents; and a daughter, Tamara. A memorial fund has been established.
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Rest in peace mother. I love you and miss you.
My Mother was kind, sweet, gracious. She never smoked, drank, swore. She never said an unkind thing about anyone. I loved that she had all her facilities in the nursing home and we could talk for hours. I loved that she read to us when we were children and instilled in me the love of learning. So many of the things she taught me I do exactly like she did. I loved that she read all the time. Tickled me pink when one of her grandchildren gave her TWILIGHT series and she read them as eagerly as any Twilight fan. She never wanted diamonds or fancy things, she was proud to be a Mother and loved all of her children. She was proud to be a grandmother and loved all of her grandchildren. I miss her already. I remember songs she sang to me and I sang them to my children and now to my grandchildren. Love you Mom. Always. – C.
“You may have tangible wealth untold, caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. richer than I you cannot be, I had a mother who read to me.” ~Strickland Gillilan
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above Rubies -Bible/Proverbs 31
Dearest Cousins…Don…Cheryl…
Jackie…Kevin…Jimmy and Mary!
Your mother was a beautiful lady inside and out! May you find PEACE and COMFORT knowing that your grief is shared by many! Say not in grief that your mother is gone…as she will live forever in your hearts! And always remain THANKFUL that she was YOURS!
If there is anything at all that I can do for any one of you please…let me know!
love and huggs to each of you!
always Shelley and family
Our thoughts, prayers, and sympathy’s to all Sally’s loved ones.
Love you gramma.
My deep condolences to all those who loved Aunt Sally. <3 You all are in my prayers.
Sending my sincere condolences to Cheryl and the Rife families. May the memories of your Mom, comfort you now and forever. Jerry and Marge Lokenvitz
All of you are in my thoughts and prayers! I have no idea what you must be going through, but please know that you are in my thoughts and I am sending prayers your way! Love you all bunches!!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. Aunt Sally was a wonderful lady who will be greatly missed.
Sending loving thoughts to all family members. We will always remember the kind words she always expressed to us. And so so so many stories and never forgot to enclude a happy memory. She will be remembered as a loving caring Mother, grandmother and especially such a kind women..Love & hugs to all.
mom i miss you so much i wish you were still here ,you always knew how to take way my pain but i know you are in a better place and we will be together again and i hope you know how much we love you
I will always remember Sally. Together, we worked so hard to get her to walk so she could return home and I was so happy when she could. I really appreciate how generous she was in her thanks to me and the praise she gave me in front of others. She was so kind and always spoke lovingly of her family.
Prayers to all the family may God be with u all in this hard time.
Knowing your Mama loved Jesus is the sweetest gift she could have given you. For now when you think of her, you can imagine her well and whole, no more pain, no more sorrow, full of peace and love everflowing as she lives on in eternity in heaven. May the memories you have of your Mama bring you much happiness and peace. Love and hugs. Julie
Kevin J, I was so sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. May you find peace and comfort in all the wonderful memories you have of your mom! You look so much like her. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
This day is remembered and quietly kept,
No words are needed, we shall never forget,
For those we love don’t go away,
They walk beside us every day.
Unseen and unheard, but always near,
So loved, so missed, and so very dear.
Thinking of you all & keeping you in our prayers.
Sally Lou Hathaway Rife
At 15 Sally Lou Hathaway was head Usherette at the Iowa Theater downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She and her friends worked together. Sally got to assign who worked which aisles and when. She would schedule herself the end aisle and then she could catch up in between with with her friend Bonnie on Popcorn duty. She recalled special events there where they got to be in dress clothes. One such event was a concert. Sally and Bonnie wore evening gowns and they went to show her Daddy who drove Bus. He drove them down to the Theater in his city bus wearing their evening gowns. She laughed years later about what a
stir they caused riding the city bus all dressed to the nines. In high school Sally was also chosen to be part of a four girl singing group. She was surprised to be picked over her best friend who she considered a better singer. She loved to sing. Always sang to us kids as we were growing up. Most recently she sang along at the nursing home to some of the Christmas songs at her party with Jackie, Rosy, Cheryl, Dominic and Josie.
Sally was a kind, sweet beautiful woman. I remember being a little girl and she bent down to listen and talk with me. Her pretty, smiling face framed by her beautiful dark hair and her warm laughter. She was definitely a jewel in our universe.