Rita Marie (Cowing) Matteson was born in Burns, on April 28, 1976, to Clyde and Patricia Cowing, joining her older brother Mike. 

She passed away to walk in heaven on Sept. 27, 2024, in Irrigon, Ore.

Rita was a spunky girl and started walking at 8 1/2 months and when she’d fall down, big brother was there to help her up. It didn’t take long until she was independent and didn’t want any help. At five years she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and she struggled with that over the years but always said she had to keep going because mom said use it or lose it. She eventually had to have both hips and both knees replaced. 

She loved to ride her pony Thunder but her favorite horse was Chip. When we branded calves you could find her among the newly branded calves consoling them. She had such a sweet gentle heart. She was soft spoken but also her temper could show when things didn’t go like she thought. Her brother took away a tonka truck one time when they were playing in the dirt and she jumped up and it’s a good thing mom was close by as she had found a 2×4 and was about to use it on her brother!  

Rita graduated from Burns High in 1994, and went on to Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton.  Her wonderful friend Esther went with her and together they had tons of fun!  

Rita was introduced to Jerry Matteson by a mutual friend and that is when the phone call to her mom saying “Hey Mom, I’ve found the love of my life” came. They were married in Pendleton, at the Methodist church on Aug. 2, 1997. They had 27 years together and had so many plans ahead of them. They did go to the coast for their anniversary this year and those are precious memories for Jerry. 

She is survived by her husband, Jerry Matteson; mother, Patti Wagner; brother, Mike Cowing; nieces, Kayla Cowing and Karyn Cowing; mother-in-law, Maxine Crowley; step-mother, Teresa Cowing; step-brothers, Michael Westlake, Jackie Westlake and Kerry Wagner; step-sisters Lanette Howard and Brandie Wright. 

She was preceded in death by her father, Clyde Cowing; step-father Bill Wagner; father-in-law, Dale Matteson; and stepfather-in-law, Ed Crowley. 

She was our bright shining star…..