“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15
One year and five months after her husband, Ross David Fite, was taken to heaven, God chose to call his bride of 65 years, Ila Mae Fite, to join him. Our precious mother, grandmother, sister, friend and faithful missionary laid her earthly body aside and went to her heavenly home on Jan. 12, 2016.
Ila Mae Fite was born on Dec. 17, 1927, in Wise County, Texas, in the home to James Loyd and Ellie Frances Bivens. She was the middle child of the Bivens’ 11 children. Ila grew up in west Texas graduating valedictorian of her senior class in Boyd, Texas, at the age of 17. After graduation she moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where she worked as a secretary for an Aeronautics Company. Upon getting settled in Fort Worth she joined Maddox Avenue Baptist Church. About two years later a young man named Ross Fite visited her church. He accepted the Lord Jesus as his own personal Savior and became an active member. Shortly thereafter he and Ila became acquainted and fell in love. They were joined in marriage on June 24, 1949.
Upon his graduation from Bible Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, the couple moved to Fayetteville, Ark., where they planted the Fayetteville Baptist Church. Ross had served as pastor for seven years when the Lord burdened his heart for the lost souls of Latin America. Ila served faithfully with her husband as a missionary in El Salvador and Southern Mexico for more than 50 years.
Ila Mae professed faith in Christ as a young girl, was baptized and joined a Baptist church. She grew up claiming to be a child of God and strived to serve Christ but had no peace in her heart. After serving with her husband in the ministry for several years the conviction became overwhelming. While attending a Bible conference at Rolling Hills Baptist Church in Fort Worth, she admitted that she had never truly repented of her sins and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as her own personal Savior. At that meeting her life was changed forever as she humbled herself and truly gave her heart and life to the Lord. From that time forward, she served her Savior with joy until He called her home.
Ila Mae Fite is survived by four daughters, Martha and husband Lonnie C. Smith Jr., Guadalajara, Mexico, Mary and husband Roger R. Collins, Iola, Deborah and husband Michael A. Meredith, Mandurah, Australia, and Rachel and husband William Mark King, Fort Worth; 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins; four sisters, Bernice Kinchen, Springtown, Texas, Wanda and husband Don Woodard, Ft. Worth, Joyce Llene and husband Sidney Torbett, Springtown, Texas, and Delores and husband James Gibbs, Denison, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, five brothers and one sister.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Iola Baptist Temple. Pastor Roger R. Collins will be officiating. Evangelist A.F. Collins of Fort Scott will bring the Memorial Sermon. Interment will be held at the National Cemetery in Fort Scott at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Ila Mae will lie in state until 6 p.m. Tuesday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola.
Memorials are suggested to Iola Baptist Temple and may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel. To sign the guest book online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Ila Mae Fite
