Rita Jean (Reef) Kendall

Rita Jean Kendall, 73, passed away on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, with her loving husband by her side. She was born on January 17, 1952, in Cutler, Indiana, to her parents, Ray Reef and Margaret (Ball) Reef. Rita married Tommy “Neal” Kendall on May 26, 1990, and the two have cherished the years they’ve had together. 

Rita graduated from Carroll High School in the class of 1970. She then went on to earn a degree in nursing. Many folks from Tipton will fondly remember Rita from her years spent working  for Tipton Hospital. She was a proud and compassionate nurse; who never failed to advocate for her patients. Her kind heart, outgoing personality, and proficient skillset would almost immediately put her patients at ease. Rita loved her job and that was obvious to anyone she crossed paths with. 

In her free time Rita was just as warm and caring. She loved spending time with her family and made home an enjoyable, restful place to be. You could often find Rita reading a book or watching a movie; she loved Kung Fu or Westerns. Rita also enjoyed tending to her flowers. She had a green thumb and really liked being outdoors. Rita was a collector as well. She collected many different things through the years that symbolized special moments in her life. She was a person who appreciated her life and was thankful for the people who invested in her. Rita was a sweet spirit and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Those left to carry on Rita’s legacy of love are her husband, Neal Kendall; brother, Larry (Carol) Reef; cherished as one of our own, Jonathan (Amber) Yates; and extended family, Devin Piel, Katherine Long, Roland Yates, Emmett Yates; and Dave & Barb Yates. 

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Margaret Reef.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home, located at 314 N. Main St. in Tipton.  Nurses Honor Guard ceremony at 1:45 PM.

Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home is honored to serve Rita’s family in their time of need. Please feel free to leave an online condolence or share a special memory of Rita with her family on her tribute wall. 

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