Arita Mae Booker

Arita Mae (Smith) Booker, of Tyler, passed away at home on Wednesday, August 21, 2013, at age 90. Visitation will be at the Groesbeck Funeral Home from 12:00 Noon until the service begins on Saturday. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, August 24, 2013, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with the family’s past neighbor and long-time family friend, Richard Hilleman officiating. Burial will follow in Faulkenberry Cemetery. Arita was born April 20, 1923 in the Horn Hill community of Limestone County, to Herman Wylie Smith and Maggie Mae (Wilson) Smith. At age 16, Arita graduated from Groesbeck High School, where she had played volleyball on a championship team. A beautiful girl, and a beauty queen, Arita’s young photographs could rival any movie star. Arita was working at a café in Mart, where by chance, D. C. came in one day. It was love at first sight for Arita and her true love, D. C. Booker, and they married three months later on August 31, 1942. During their life together, they moved many times with his job while he worked on road construction, and also while he spent time in the U. S. Navy. They settled in Dallas where they lived until she lost him in 1966. They enjoyed dancing during their marriage and are now dancing together again. Arita worked as a nurse’s aid for Dallas ISD ten years and retired in 1983. She moved to Tatum in 1985 to be near her daughter. During her life, Arita loved to dance, talk, read, and watch TV. She would read 50 books a week, and was known in Tatum as the lady who rated the books by number of stars. The librarian, Janet Breedlove became her close friend and brought books to her when she couldn’t come in. She moved again in 2008 to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Tyler where they could take care of her. She was the best mother anyone could ask for. Arita was preceded in death by her parents, Wylie Herman Smith and Maggie Mae (Wilson) Smith; her husband, D. C. Booker; an infant son in 1956; sisters, Mary F. Rietow, Margie Littleton, Mildred Andrews, and brother, Herman Smith. She is survived by a son, Don C. Booker of Wharton; daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Bryan Waller of Tyler; son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Shirley Booker of Crowley; three grandchildren, 1 great grandchild; and nieces and nephews. The family thanks Janet Breedlove for her friendship and love for Arita, Theresa King of Tatum, who visited every Thursday and kept a journal for Arita, Ernest West and Patsy Shaw for the care given her in Tatum so she could live by herself as long as possible. Thanks to Jordans Home Health for the many years of taking care of her. God saved the best for last, sending Anna Flores to be her last caregiver. Thanks to Shirley Price that called her every week for over 25 years. Finally, to son-in-law, Bryan Waller, who took care of her so she could be at home. Thanks also to Heart to Heart Hospice for their care. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Alliance of Smith County, 211 Winchester Dr., Tyler, TX 75701.