Obituary of Margaret Jean Riggs

Margaret Jean Riggs Margaret Jean Riggs, 80, died Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, at Homestead Health and Rehabilitation Center in Garden City. She was born Dec. 5, 1933, in Dodge City to Myrl V. and Wilda I. Opdyke Walker. She spent her childhood living in national parks, including Yosemite, Petrified Forest, Glacier and Zion. In 1951, she graduated from Hurricane High School in Hurricane, Utah, then in 1956 earned her bachelor's of arts degree in English from Fort Hays State University. On June 10, 1956, she married Robert E. Riggs in Hays. He preceded her in death on Sept. 23, 1991. She taught high school English in Colby, was a homemaker and also taught in Oneonta, N.Y., before moving to Garden City in 1977. She was one of the first broadcasting teachers at Garden City High School and also taught English at GCHS before retiring in 1986. After retirement, she was an adjunct English instructor at Garden City Community College and volunteered at Buffalo Jones Elementary School and with the United Methodist Mexican-American Ministries tutoring program. She attended First United Methodist Church in Garden City and was a member of the Tri Sigma sorority and Half Century Club, both at Fort Hays State. She had a love for animals and enjoyed reading, watching University of Kansas sports, spending time with family and attending her grandchildren's many activities. Survivors include two sons, Michael Riggs and his wife, Elaine, of Houston, and Brett Riggs and his wife, Dawn, of Garden CIty; two daughters, Tamara Riggs of Garden City, and Suzanne Corbett and her husband, Dale, of Garden City; five grandchildren, Alexis and James Corbett, Elise Riggs, and Evan and Sage Riggs; and one great-granddaughter, Jasiah Walker. In addition to her husband, she also was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Garden City, with the Rev. Brian Faust officiating. Interment will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Allen Cemetery in Hays. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Garden City. Memorials may be given to the Finney County Humane Society or to the Sternberg Museum of Hays, both in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home, 620 N. Main St., Garden City, KS 67846. E-condolences may be sent to www.priceandsons.com