Jo Rita Thompson

Died: Oct. 3, 2012

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- Jo Rita Thompson, 71, of Fort Walton Beach, passed away peacefully Wednesday.

Mrs. Thompson was born in Limestone, Tenn., and had lived in Fort Walton Beach since 1973.

She was the daughter of the late Niles Lewis and Anna Mary Keys.

Her lifelong passion was early childhood education. She had spent more than 30 years with Okaloosa County Head Start as a teacher and family services coordinator.

She had earned her Associate of Science in Child Development and Education from Okaloosa-Walton Community College and was selected as a member of Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges.

She liked doing crafts, studying genealogy, and spending time with her family and friends.

She is survived by her husband: Shelby Thompson; her daughters: Anna Maria and Teresa Gale; her son-in-law: Christopher Albrycht; her two grandchildren: Madelyne and Rhett Albrycht; her brother: Ray Keys; her sisters: Nancy Luster and Linda Fann; and her nephews and nieces: Lynn Roberts, Sherry Chic, Tim Keys, Tina Rogers, Byrl Fann Jr., and Tammy Baines.

There will be a viewing from 6-8 p.m. today at Emerald Coast Funeral Home in Fort Walton Beach.

A service celebrating her life, led by the Rev. Byrl Fann, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with interment in Beal Memorial Gardens.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at http://www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com.