Longtime Murrieta Resident Rita Park Dies

Rita Park, who at one time served as the honorary mayor of Murrieta, died July 16 in her Murrieta home.

Park was 86. She was one of the founding members of the and a longtime member of the .

She was part of a three-person team who opened the first Friends of the Murrieta Library bookstore on Los Alamos Road, according to Roberta Fokken, board member.

Park lived on 1st street in what is now known as Historic Downtown Murrieta. Her home was a converted butcher shop, where she raised eight children. as part of a neighborhood beautification project by Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Murrieta City Council closed its meeting Tuesday in remembrance of Park.

"She was a remarkable lady who will be missed," said Councilman Rick Gibbs.

For the last years of her life, Park suffered from progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain disorder that causes serious and permanent problems with control of gait and balance. The condition made it difficult for her to eat, drink or speak in her final days.

A graveside service for Park was pending.