Obituary of Marita Clare Hooper

Funeral Service Friday, Mar 02, 2018 10:00 AM Marita Clare Hooper November 06, 1939 - February 24, 2018 Marita Clare Hooper, La Porte, TX passed away peacefully on February 24, 2018 at her home with her family at her bedside after a long, hard battle with cancer. Born in 1939, in rural Yates Center, KS, she was the daughter of the late John and Genevieve Massoth of Iola, KS. Marita is survived by her beloved husband, Jack, of 50 years; daughter, Kelli Wilson (Ken) of Pearland, TX; son, Kevin Hooper (Belinda) of Friendswood, TX; brother, John Massoth of Burlington, KS; sisters, Joan Wingblade of Ashburn, VA; Mary Haynes of Colorado Springs, Co; and Karen Roth of Valley Center, KS. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Christina Hooper, Jonathan Hooper, Emily Wilson, Sarah Wilson, Caleb Wilson and Joshua Wilson. They were the pride and joy of her life. She loved having them close by and was blessed to have enjoyed attending many of their school and community activities. Marita attended elementary school in a one-room school in rural Woodson County, Kansas, and graduated from Yates Center High School in 1958. Upon graduation, she sought employment in Lawrence, KS where she was employed with Hallmark Cards and later with Southwest Bell Telephone Company. On August 5, 1967, she married Buell Jackson Hooper at St. John’s Catholic Church in Lawrence, KS. They began their married life in Santa Maria, CA where Jack completed his tour of duty with the US Air Force. Her husband’s employment with NASA at the Johnson Space Center brought them to Texas in 1968 where they began their family. Marita’s career with the La Porte Independent School District where she was in the school lunch program culminated with 20 years of service. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, La Porte, TX for 50 years. She and her husband played a vital role in the activities of the parish where they assisted with the Funeral Dinner Program and the St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store. She was well known for her wonderful baked goods and baskets of sweets she prepared for the annual parish bazaar fundraiser. In her adult years, Marita became a dedicated sports fan of supporting the Houston Rockets and Astros. Marita and Jack celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a cruise to Alaska last summer and was the highlight of their traveling years. Her tremendous faith and her 24/7 caregivers, Jack and family, were key to how she remarkably bore the cross of cancer the past three and a half years. Visitation will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 816 Park Ave., La Porte, TX on Thursday March 1, 2018 from 5 pm to 7 pm. Rosary will follow the visitation. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 10 am. The Celebrant will be the Father Tony Castro. Burial will be at Grand View Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to: St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or MD Anderson Hospital, 301439, Houston, TX 77230-1439.