Long-time Highline community activist Rita Creighton died suddenly and unexpectedly March 16 at her Normandy Park home.

Mrs. Creighton was appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire to the Highline Community College Board of Trustees on March 9, 2005, and served as board vice chairwoman in 2006-07.

Gov. Gary Locke had earlier named her to the A+ Commission-Successful Schools education and reform subcommittee

She helped form Aviation High School and served on the SeaTac Occupational Skills Center Advisory Board.

Active in PTA, Mrs. Creighton was a national board member and president of the state chapter. She also participated in Communities in Schools and Youth Fair Chance.

She was a member of the Highline Historical Society Board of Directors.

Mrs. Creighton worked at Boeing in technical support where she met her future husband. They were married in 1979.

For the past decade, she was employed at King County International Airport (Boeing Field) as community relations and aviation education manager.

In the March 17 Aviation High newsletter, principal Reba Gilman wrote, "If ever there were a Godmother of Aviation High School, it was Rita Creighton."

Gilman noted Mrs. Creighton was her "wingman" in starting the theme-based high school. Mrs. Creighton wrote grants, attended meetings, talked to influential people and helped organize the school's PTSA.

"....there was no one as skilled as Rita in reporting the news of Aviation High School," Gilman added. "She clearly 'got' our vision and mission, and she told it like it was her own, because indeed, it was.

"She loved this school, and its people-students, staff, parents-she loved us all! I loved Rita as a sister and we were friends for 21 years,"

Reacting to Mrs. Creighton's death, Karen Vander Ark, Highline Community College board chairwoman, said, "We will mourn her loss as we celebrate her lifelong commitment to pursuing fairness in all avenues of community involvement. Her wisdom, love and passion for all mankind were evident in everything that she did."

Added Highline interim president Jack Bermingham, "Rita Creighton was a committed and caring person whose every action, both as a board member and as a citizen, reflected her deep concern for the welfare of students and our community."

Commenting on Mrs. Creighton in the historical society's newsletter about two years ago, society director Cyndi Upthegrove noted, "Rita Creighton has committed her adult life to organizations that make a difference in our communities, and the Society is fortunate to have her formidable skills at work in the design and implementation of our new Highline Heritage Museum."

Mrs. Creighton was born in Miami, Oklahoma, on Sept. 10, 1949, to Mary and Stan Trask Sr. and moved to Normandy Park in 1952. She graduated from Des Moines' Mount Rainier High School in 1967 and attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

She is survived by her husband, former Normandy Park City Councilman and Airport Communities Coalition chairman Stuart Creighton, and her children, Jeff and Courtney (Scott Chaffee). Other survivors include brothers Stan Jr. (Billi), Michael (Faith) and Richard (Sandi), as well and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of her life was held March 21 at the Normandy Park Cove.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Aviation High PTSA or Highline Historical Building Fund.