Mrs. Rita Saunders Lehman, 52, of Miramar Beach, FL went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 05, 2016. A native of Lake City, Rita graduated from Columbia High School in 1981 and The University of Florida in 1986. She worked for Baxter Health Care and Bristol-Myers Squibb as a Chemotherapy Drug Representative before she gave up her career to homeschool their son Walker. She loved Jesus throughout her battle with cancer and never questioned God during this long ordeal as she always felt he had the best for her. Rita was always an encourager to others and she always gave God the glory and trusted in him and always witnessed to everyone she came in contact with. She was tired of the pain and wanted to go home, but if God had souls for her to witness to, she would stay. The family wants to thank everyone especially for the prayers that sustained them, and all of the practical and financial support they received. Rita was preceded in death by her father, Ray Saunders in 1990, sisters, Mary Ann Blanton in 2003, Cynthia Kay Saunders in 2006, and her grandmother Allie Greene in 1999. Rita is survived by her husband Jake Lehman of Miramar Beach, FL; son, Jacob Walker Lehman of Miramar Beach, FL; her mother, Ernestine Greene Saunders of Lake City; brother, Richard Saunders of Lake City; nephews, Justin Blanton of California, and Colin Blanton of Tavares, FL.

Funeral services for Rita will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at Parkview Baptist Church in Lake City with Reverend Mike Tatem and Reverend J.R. Hite officiating. Interment will follow at Corinth Cemetery in Lake City. Visitation with the family will be held from 10:00-11:00 A.M. Wednesday before the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Parkview Baptist Church Building Fund, 268 NW Lake Jeffery Road, Lake City, FL 32055 Lake City, FL 32055 , the Children Tumor Foundation, 120 Wall Street-16th Floor, New York, NY 1005-3904, or donations payable to Ernestine Saunders, 200 SE Lakewood Lane, Lake City, FL 32025 to help offset Ritas medical expenses .