Rita Kay Phillips was born October 14, 1941 in Houston, TX to Mary Ella Woodruff and Kyle Carlton Phillips. She moved with her parents, her older brother Kyle, and her younger sister Noel to Louisiana and Wyoming before the family settled in Albuquerque, NM, where Rita grew up and graduated from Highland High School in 1959. She moved briefly to San Francisco, where she took advantage of the opportunities afforded by her job as an airline ticket agent to travel the world, including London, Paris, and many cities in Mexico. Ultimately, Rita returned to Albuquerque to pursue her education, earning a B.A. in English and History from the University of New Mexico in 1969. She impacted the lives of many young people as a high school educator in the Albuquerque Public School system. 

In Albuquerque, she met Capt. W. F. (Bill) Berry, recently returned from a tour of duty in Vietnam. They married in June 1971 and had one daughter, Jessica, a year later. In the early 80s, they divorced, and Rita pursued a new degree, in accountancy, and changed careers. She retired from her position as accountant for the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in 2003. She remained in Albuquerque until 2016, and then relocated to Pueblo, CO. Rita was an avid reader and will be remembered as an accomplished painter, especially of the landscapes of New Mexico, which she loved so well.

Rita died gracefully and in peace, at her home, with her family, on July 20. She is survived by her daughter, Jessica Berry, and her son-in-law, Greg Moore, who live in Atlanta. The family would like to thank New Century Hospice for their care and support, and we extend our special thanks to the Denver Health Medical Aid in Dying Program and its exceptionally compassionate and understanding physicians and coordinators.