Dr. Rita Hadley McNair, 74, a resident of Foley, passed away in her home on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013.
Rita graduated from the Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Ill. in 1957. She attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Ill. and National College of Education in Chicago.
She was a highly successful elementary teacher in the Chicago suburbs for many years.
She received her master’s degree from the University of South Alabama in Mobile and her doctorate from Auburn University in the field of curriculum design.
Dr. McNair was a highly regarded faculty member of the University of South Alabama, was the author of several publications and served as consultant to a number of colleges and state departments in the early childhood education field.
Rita and her husband, Don, had a deep love for antiques. The two owned the Gasworks Antique Mall in Foley. They also spent several years traveling the Southeast United States, selling at regional antique shows before retiring in December 2012.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dr. William Hadley.
Survivors include her mother, Polly Hadley; one sister, Carol Hadley; one brother, Bill Hadley; her husband Don McNair; three children, Gary Raymond (Liz) McNair, Amy McNair (Mike) Wheaton and Scott Christopher (Stacy) McNair; five grandchildren, April McNair (Cory) Brockett, Samantha McNair, Gabrielle McNair, Taylor Wheaton and Kelsey McNair; and two great-grandchildren, Harleigh and Jude Brockett.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, 2013 at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home in Foley.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, at 10 a.m., at the chapel of Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home.
Interment will be in Wynn Cemetery.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Foley.
