October 9, 1934 – October 8, 2025
Francys Marie Ritter, a devoted mother, cherished grandmother, and legendary quilt maker, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at Heritage Care Center in Mason City, Iowa. Her life was a beautiful tapestry of love, creativity, and selfless giving, leaving a legacy stitched into the hearts of all who knew her.
A funeral service to celebrate Francys’s beautiful life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, October 13, 2025, at Hogan Bremer Moore Funeral Home, 126 3rd St. NE, Mason City, IA 50401 with Mark Doebel officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Following the service, burial will take place at Park Cemetery in Nora Springs.
Born to Gordon and Leota (Bailey) Rex in Marble Rock, Iowa, Francys’s journey was guided by the loving hands of Grace and Guy Seabaugh, who raised her from the age of nine. Even in her youth, she possessed a vibrant energy, sharing her voice by singing at events, playing in the band, and shining brightly on the basketball court.
On a beautiful day, August 29, 1951, she married the love of her life, Don Ritter, at the iconic Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Their devotion was constant through all seasons, including the years Don served in the army, during which Francys held things steady in Marble Rock working at the local locker. From their loving union came five wonderful children: Jimmy, Charlie, Donnella, Mike, and WaNita.
Francys was a woman whose hands were rarely idle, constantly creating beauty and providing comfort. She was an extraordinary gardener, cultivating not only beautiful flowers that brightened her home but also abundant vegetables that nourished her family. She was a master of the harvest, expertly canning and freezing her produce to extend the taste of summer throughout the year. Throughout her working life, she dedicated her care to others, holding positions at the Nora Springs Care Center, Good Shepherd, and the Marble Rock Locker.
Her most enduring passion, however, was quilting, a craft sparked at the tender age of 11 when Grace first showed her how to repurpose flowered chicken feed bags. This humble beginning grew into a lifelong ministry of warmth; into her older age, Francys lovingly created over 900 quilts, gifting them to family, friends, care centers, and the women’s shelter—a remarkable testament to her boundless generosity. She even treasured a pillowcase they had made together all those years ago. Her creativity branched out into crocheting and sewing beautiful clothes for her daughters and their dolls.
Francys will be forever missed and kept in memory by her children: Donnella (John) McGrew, Mike (Doris) Ritter, and WaNita (Joel) Enabnit; and her grandchildren, Jason (Courtney) Ritter, Nick Ritter, Jennifer Landgrebe, Angela (Jeramie) Moore, Vanessa (Jeremy) Plate, Kevin (Sheri) Ritter, Steve (Megan) Ritter, and Wesley Enabnit; as well as 13 great- grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren with one on the way! She is also survived by her sister, Connie Pitz; sister-in-law, Betty Rex; and special friend, Gayle Uker.
She was reunited in heaven with her beloved husband, Don Ritter; her sons, Jimmy and Charlie Ritter; her sweet granddaughter, Wendy Enabnit; her daughter-in-law, Shirley Kohler; her brother, Jim Rex; and her sisters, Kathleen Schilling and Donna Kolbet.
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