The daughter of Robert and Marie Boone Sims, Nancy Euthalia was born Aug. 26, 1911, in New Haven, Ky. Early education for Nancy and her two older sisters began with Miss Bernadette Bowling, a retired teacher who lived with them on a farm across the river from Howardstown. Later the three girls were sent to live with the Ursuline Sisters teaching at St. Ann School in Howardstown. During this time the family sold their farm and moved back to New Haven where the children attended St. Catherine School. Again the Ursuline Sisters were their teachers. When she was 17 Nancy entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. After a six‑month postulancy she received the Ursuline habit on March 19, 1929, and the name Sister James Rita.
Following preparation for a teaching apostolate, Sister James Rita was assigned to teach first grade at St. Columba School in Louisville. Later she taught at other Kentucky schools where she served as teacher and principal. Sister James Rita spent 11 years as supervisor of the schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville. She also served two different terms as mistress of the juniorate and was assigned to Brescia College in Owensboro where she held the various positions of teacher, division chairperson, and assistant to the academic dean. Then came a two‑year stint as bookkeeper at Mount Saint Joseph Center.
Sister James Rita retired to Mount Saint Joseph in 1986 after 50 years of dedicated service in numerous capacities. Her final months were spent receiving kidney dialysis three times weekly at Owensboro‑Daviess County Hospital in Owensboro. Death came to Sister James Rita on July 12, 1990. Her funeral Mass was concelebrated by Father Anthony Shonis, MSJ chaplain, and five other priests. Following this Sister James Rita was laid to rest in the convent cemetery.