Obituary
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Ama Lou Ritch

Date of Death: March 2, 2026

Date of Birth: May 25, 1940

Biography:

Ama Lou Ritch, age 85 of Brunswick, ME died on March 2, 2026 at home. Ama Lou
was born May 25, 1940, in Chicago IL, the third child and only daughter of James
Quince Burton, and Ora Elizabeth (Murphree) Burton. Her parents moved from Illinois
to Tennessee, settling in the small town of Bells, where they lived the remainder of their
lives.
Ama Lou attended college at Lipscomb College in Nashville, TN where she studied Early
Childhood Education. She left and went on to work several secretarial and administrative
positions in her career but was most known for her continued love of children and the
wonderful in-home child care she provided following her retirement.
Ama Lou, along with her husband James were active members of the Church of Christ in
Memphis TN, then Bells TN, and finally in Brunswick ME.
In her earlier years Ama Lou was a gifted seamstress, making clothes, dolls, and toys,
and clothes for the dolls and toys. She loved to sew and made many beautiful things. As
her health waned, she loved nothing better than a good card game with friends and
family.
Ama Lou was predeceased by her parents James Q and Beth (Murphree) Burton, and her
two older brothers Roy James Burton, and Alan Roger Burton. She is survived by her
husband of 65 years, James, her brother Daniel Harding Burton of California, and her
children Mary Beth Westman (Dennis) and James Ritch Jr (aka Jimi) both of Brunswick
ME. She also leaves behind four grandchildren Anthony (Jennifer), Summer (Hunter),
Stephen (Kelsey) and David and nine great-grandchildren: Rayne, Nova, Parker, Colton
Joe, Audrey, Hudson, Fox, and Aiden as well as other extended family.
The family has chosen not to have a funeral as friends and family are wide spread across
the country. Well-wishes and condolences can be sent directly to the family