Rita Scott Monson

Rita Helen Scott Monson passed peacefully into her Savior's arms on May 31, 2023 after a life well-lived. She was born February 3, 1932 in Sylvania, Georgia in Screven County to Perlie Estill Scott and Florrie Eulalah Scott as the younger sister to her beloved sister Elouine. As a young child, she and her family moved to Savannah, Georgia where she lived the remainder of her life.

Rita graduated from Savannah High School in January of 1950 where she was Top Honor Graduate of her class. Rita also earned the prestigious Eisenberg Math Award as the top math scholar in her class.

She married Karl Nils Dewey Monson, Jr. in 1956, and they had four children, Donna, Scott, Diana and Debra. Rita poured her life into her children and later her grandchildren, insisting that they make good grades and obtain a good education. Rita strived to give her children opportunities to become well-rounded adults; there were ballet lessons, tennis lessons, art lessons, and yes, even the dreaded piano lessons.
Rita also involved her children and grandchildren in sports and activities and seldom, if ever, missed a ball game or a ballet recital.

When first married, Rita began working as a bank teller and worked her way up to head teller in short order. Rita obtained a degree in early childhood studies and opened a home daycare that she operated for several years when her children were young. Later, with the children older, she obtained her Georgia real estate license and sold real estate.

Rita was a caregiver all of her life. As each developed illness, she faithfully cared for her mother-in-law, both of her parents, her husband and later, her sister. She also helped care for her grandchildren and was the “fun Grandmama” willing to slide down the slide or play hide-and-seek.

Rita had a quick wit and a sarcastic sense of humor. She had a fiery temper that earned her the nickname “Red Hot Scott.”

Rita was an animal lover. She had two pet dogs Toy and Wrigley, two house cats Dusty and Oreo, and many feral Ardsley Park cats that she tamed and named.

Rita was an avid reader. Before the internet, she would read the newspaper cover-to-cover and cut out articles about things she thought she needed to know.

Rita also played the piano and enjoyed singing in church.

Rita is survived by her four children, Donna Monson Wall (Stevie), Scott Karl Monson (Jody), Diana Monson Thibodaux (Gary), and Debra Monson Barnard (Joseph); four grandchildren, Richelle Bonacia (Federico), Ross Monson, Eric Monson, and Reagan Barnard; a great-granddaughter, Sofia Bonacia; a niece, Kay Tucker Hensley; a nephew, Jimmy Tucker, and many cousins.

Rita is preceded in death by her husband, Karl Nils Dewey Monson, Jr. , her parents, Perlie Estill Scott and Florrie Eulalah Scott, her sister, Elouine Scott Ryan, her brother-in-law, William Ryan, her sister-in law, Ida Monson Tucker, and her mother-in-law, Nicy Providence Davis Monson.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 10 W. 31st Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401 on Friday, June 23, 2023 at 11:00 A.M., preceded by visitation at 10:00 A.M. Inurnment will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Humane Society for Greater Savannah, the Alzheimer’s Association Coastal Georgia Service Area, or the charity of your choice.