Rita Francis Brand

Rita was born in Gilmer, Texas to Loyd Lee Gibbons and Pearl Hart Gibbons. Her family moved to Oak Cliff in 1951, where she graduated from Adamson High School in 1966. Upon her marriage to Dwight Brand, in 1979, she moved to Garland Texas. She lived there until August of this year, when she moved to Palestine Texas. She passed away peacefully at home, with family by her side, on the evening of Wednesday, August 30^th after a lengthy fight with Lewy Body Dementia.

Rita worked for multiple companies in the Dallas area in an administrative roll before retiring from Lincoln Financial Group in 2012. She taught Sunday School classes at First Christian Church in Garland for over 20 years, spending most of that time teaching the first-grade class. She also served the church as deacon, elder, CWF President, board member, and served on various ministries within the church.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents Loyd and Pearl Gibbons, brothers Dwayne and wife Molly Gibbons, Kenneth and wife Peggy Gibbons, sister Nelda Cook, brother-in-law Charlie Stuart, and daughter-in-law Valerie Brand.

Rita is survived by her husband Dwight Brand, sister Yvonne Stuart, son David Brand, daughters KC and Carl Lanier, Gay and Larry Pollard, and Mollie Brand Hatten. She had six grandchildren, Whitney, Jason, Jessica, Clayton, Savannah, and Nate, along with seven great-grandchildren.

Service will be held at First Christian Church in Garland Texas on Saturday September 9^th at 10:30 AM, with a viewing preceding the service at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to First Christian Church of Garland, or to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at lbda.org.