Demarest

Rita Mae Demarest, 76, of Victor, Idaho, formerly of Butler, died peacefully in her sleep Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Idaho.

Born March 6, 1950, in Butler, she was a daughter of the late Paul F. Wilson and Ruth A. Graham Wilson.

Rita retired from Sylvan Inc. in Kittanning. She previously was employed for more than 20 years at Moonlight Mushrooms in Worthington.

Rita was a member of St. John Roman Catholic Church in Fenelton until 2018, when she moved to Idaho to be closer to her grandchildren. She was the best grandma and she loved to spend time with the grandchildren.

It gave Rita great joy to tell of her life growing up in a large, loving family in Fenelton and how proud she was to have a twin sister, Rose.

She enjoyed watching wildlife and birds, especially bald eagles. Possessed with a green thumb, she was an avid gardener who could grow anything. Rita was always willing to help people in need and would drop whatever she was doing to assist others. She is dearly missed by all.

Rita is survived by her daughter, Carrie Baysek, and her husband, Chris, of Victor, Idaho; three grandchildren, Kepler Baysek, Piper Baysek and Scout Baysek; three brothers, David Wilson, Donald Wilson and James Wilson, all of Fenelton; six sisters, Janet Smink, of Saxonburg, Linda Shuler and her husband, James, of Butler, Gertrude McPherson, of Butler, her twin, Rose Wilson, of Fenelton, Ruth Turner, of Butler, and Donna Wilson, of Fenelton; two sisters-in-law, Kelly Wilson and Patricia Wilson; and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.

In addition to her parents, Rita was preceded in death by her son, Brian James Demarest; three brothers, William “Billy” Wilson, Paul J. Wilson and Thomas P. Wilson; two sisters, Mary Wilson and Nora Eppinger; two brothers-in-law, Dewayne Turner and Charles McPherson; and one niece, Tammy Eppinger.

DEMAREST — Friends of Rita Mae Demarest, who died Wednesday, July 1, 2026, will be received from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME DOWNTOWN, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Sts. Francis and Clare Parish, St. John Roman Catholic Church, 668 Clearfield Road, Fenelton, with the Rev. Matt McClain officiating.

Burial will take place in St. John Cemetery.

For more information, please visit www.martinfh.net.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.