Oleta Faye Rhoads

Oleta Faye (Harris) Rhoads left this earth to be with the Lord in her heavenly home on March 10, 2026. She was born August 9, 1956, in Carnegie, Oklahoma. Her loving parents, Gene and Movita Harris, raised her with her sisters, Felena Budnik and Cathy Collins, and her brother, Rick Harris.

Oleta inherited her parents’ great love of music and especially loved country and bluegrass. She wrote songs, sang beautifully, and often made music with her family.

Oleta met the love of her life in high school and was united in marriage to Patrick Rhoads in June of 1974. Together they built a life centered on family, faith, and love. Their loving union was blessed with five children: Amanda, Sarah, Eliza, Amos, and Gabriel.

A graduate of Belle High School in 1974, she married soon after and began caring for her growing family. She cherished her children, who tromped gleefully outdoors each day with boundless energy and imagination.

In 1985, with the children mostly in school, Oleta returned to her education at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. A lifelong lover of books and reading, she pursued a degree in Education. After years of juggling tests, homework, four rowdy children (and welcoming number five while she was still in school) she received her degree and began teaching. She taught elementary and later high school English at Belle Elementary and High School, Steelville High School, Newburg High School, and Owensville High School. She loved her students and inspired a love of reading in generations of Missourians.

A lifelong lover of storytelling and creativity, Oleta helped found Mid Missouri Community Theater. She joyfully poured her time and talents into every part of its production. From directing, acting, creating costumes to building sets, she helped bring countless stories to life on stage. After retiring from her teaching career, she followed another creative passion and opened a quilt shop. Quilting brought her immense joy, and she loved creating beautiful pieces and sharing the craft with others. Through teaching, theater, and quilting, Oleta shared her creativity, her love of learning, and her generous spirit with everyone around her, forming many cherished relationships along the way.

Oleta professed her faith in Christ and was baptized at First Christian Church in Belle. She later became a member of Bland Christian Church. Christ was always evident in her life, and she led with compassion, forgiveness, hospitality, and love.

Oleta was preceded in death by her father, Gene Harris; her mother, Movita Harris; Otis Johns; sisters Terri Randolph and Omega Vann; brother Greg Johns; and her beloved daughter, Eliza Pope.

Oleta leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband of 51 years, Patrick; her children, Amanda (Jay) Fazekas, Sarah (Darrel) Sharpe, Tito Pope, Amos (Torrie) Rhoads, Gabriel (Erin) Rhoads; her much-doted-upon grandchildren, Jazmen Bell, Christian Sharpe, VJ Williams, Grace Fazekas, Logan Sharpe, Quintin Reed, Azariah Pope, Katie Sharpe, Garrett Fazekas, Elizabeth Williams, Madelynn Rhoads, Kyrie Rhoads, Carson Rhoads, Morgan Rhoads, Vada Rhoads, Keane Rhoads, and Kylan Rhoads; her great-grandchildren, Grayson and Crewe Reed; siblings Cathy Collins, Rick Harris, Felena Budnik, Les Johns, and Joley Clark; as well as a host of other relatives and many beloved friends.

Oleta’s home was always open to those experiencing hard times, and she deeply cared for and loved so many around her. Her kindness, warmth, creativity, and unwavering faith touched countless lives. She will be profoundly missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her. We take comfort knowing she is home with the Lord.In honor of Oleta’s love of quilting and her generous spirit, expressions of sympathy may be made to Project Linus (https://www.projectlinus.org/donate.php).

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Belle Community Church, 206 Highway 28 E, Belle, Missouri. A meal will be served at 2:00 p.m., followed by visitation at 4:00 p.m. and the service at 5:00 p.m. Flowers may be sent to Sassman’s Funeral Service in Belle.

Services under the direction of Sassmann's Chapel in Belle. (573-859-3712) www.sassmannschapel.com