Obituary for Theresa Barbara Ridley
Theresa Barbara Parker Ridley was born on August 4, 1930 in Warren, Oklahoma to Buford Tillman Parker and Gertrude Ellen Hendricks Parker. She passed away at home in Mangum, Oklahoma, surrounded by her loving family on April 5, 2021. She attended schools in Hobart, Oklahoma, Sayre, Oklahoma, and Mercedes, Texas. It was in her times at Mercedes, that Theresa found art classes and began an artistic interest that would last her entire life. Theresa returned to Sayre in high school and became a Sayre Eagle cheerleader, participated in school activities, and took her studies seriously. She met and married the love of her life, Willis Wade Ridley, in Sayre when he returned home from serving in World War II. They were married on November 3, 1946. While living in Sayre, they had their children Wade, Jr. and Barbara (Barbie). They later moved to Elk City and finally settled in Mangum, Oklahoma in 1959.
Theresa was an excellent cook, home room mother, Boys Scout Leader, Girls Scout Leader, played canasta, avid reader, gifted gardener, worked in vacation Bible School at the Church of Christ, member of the Church of Christ, and loved to play golf. After retirement, she and Wade played golf nearly every day for over 20 years, a few times in the snow. Theresa was always a diligent worker as a homemaker and had many vocations. She worked as a window designer for J.C. Penney’s in her early years. She was an imaginative seamstress and made wedding dresses, prom dresses, and costumes throughout the community and for her daughter, most of the time never needing a sewing pattern. She baked and decorated wedding and party cakes and cookies. She worked at the Owl Tree Arts and Craft Store, Mildred’s Flowers, owned a local greenhouse, and most of all, helped her husband at the United Supermarket. Throughout this time, Theresa continued to paint beautiful artwork for her family and friends.
Theresa valued her family most of all. She never failed to be there for her husband and children. When her grandchildren, Kristi and Kurt, were born it added an extra blessing to her life. As a grandmother, she became known to all of the family as Nana. She treasured Kristi’s and Kurt’s visits and adored activities with them. In later years she was again blessed by her great grandchildren, Holly, Presley, Allie, Bryson, Riley, and Hannah. She relished all of their times with her and even appreciated following their activities on social media when her health limited her travels. In her later years, she learned to use computers, never backing down from a challenge. She enjoyed following current events and had excellent advice for her family on politics, financial matters, and fashion. Theresa also loved to dog sit the family cocker spaniels throughout the years and delighted in relating their antics. As mentioned earlier, she continued to paint beautiful pictures until the final days of her life.
Theresa was preceded in death by her husband, Wade, her parents Buford and Gertrude Parker, siblings, Harold Parker, Curtis Parker, and Sylvia Parker Abeldt. She is survived by her son and wife, Wade and Julia Ridley of Amarillo Texas, her daughter and husband, Barbie and Ray Stover of Mangum, granddaughter and husband Kristi and Don Coble of Pampa Texas, grandson and wife, Kurt and Rhonda Ridley of Amarillo, Texas, and great grandchildren, Holly and husband Jay Statham of Wellington, Texas, Presley Ridley of Lubbock, Texas, Allie Ridley of Amarillo, Texas, Bryson Phelps of Fort Hood, Texas, Riley Coble of Pampa, Texas, and Hannah Ridley of Amarillo, Texas and one soon to be great great grandaughter. She is also survived by her niece, Romona White, nephews Johnny Parker, Hartford Parker, and Buford Abeldt. She will be missed immensely by her family and friends. We were blessed with the best mother and Nana and we will treasure her wonderful memory and example.
Donations may be made to the Mangum Education Foundation.
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Theresa was an excellent cook, home room mother, Boys Scout Leader, Girls Scout Leader, played canasta, avid reader, gifted gardener, worked in vacation Bible School at the Church of Christ, member of the Church of Christ, and loved to play golf. After retirement, she and Wade played golf nearly every day for over 20 years, a few times in the snow. Theresa was always a diligent worker as a homemaker and had many vocations. She worked as a window designer for J.C. Penney’s in her early years. She was an imaginative seamstress and made wedding dresses, prom dresses, and costumes throughout the community and for her daughter, most of the time never needing a sewing pattern. She baked and decorated wedding and party cakes and cookies. She worked at the Owl Tree Arts and Craft Store, Mildred’s Flowers, owned a local greenhouse, and most of all, helped her husband at the United Supermarket. Throughout this time, Theresa continued to paint beautiful artwork for her family and friends.
Theresa valued her family most of all. She never failed to be there for her husband and children. When her grandchildren, Kristi and Kurt, were born it added an extra blessing to her life. As a grandmother, she became known to all of the family as Nana. She treasured Kristi’s and Kurt’s visits and adored activities with them. In later years she was again blessed by her great grandchildren, Holly, Presley, Allie, Bryson, Riley, and Hannah. She relished all of their times with her and even appreciated following their activities on social media when her health limited her travels. In her later years, she learned to use computers, never backing down from a challenge. She enjoyed following current events and had excellent advice for her family on politics, financial matters, and fashion. Theresa also loved to dog sit the family cocker spaniels throughout the years and delighted in relating their antics. As mentioned earlier, she continued to paint beautiful pictures until the final days of her life.
Theresa was preceded in death by her husband, Wade, her parents Buford and Gertrude Parker, siblings, Harold Parker, Curtis Parker, and Sylvia Parker Abeldt. She is survived by her son and wife, Wade and Julia Ridley of Amarillo Texas, her daughter and husband, Barbie and Ray Stover of Mangum, granddaughter and husband Kristi and Don Coble of Pampa Texas, grandson and wife, Kurt and Rhonda Ridley of Amarillo, Texas, and great grandchildren, Holly and husband Jay Statham of Wellington, Texas, Presley Ridley of Lubbock, Texas, Allie Ridley of Amarillo, Texas, Bryson Phelps of Fort Hood, Texas, Riley Coble of Pampa, Texas, and Hannah Ridley of Amarillo, Texas and one soon to be great great grandaughter. She is also survived by her niece, Romona White, nephews Johnny Parker, Hartford Parker, and Buford Abeldt. She will be missed immensely by her family and friends. We were blessed with the best mother and Nana and we will treasure her wonderful memory and example.
Donations may be made to the Mangum Education Foundation.
To send flowers in memory of Theresa Barbara Ridley, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Viewing
Thursday
8
Apr
12:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
Greer Funeral Home
235 South Penn
Mangum, OK 73554
Graveside
Friday
9
Apr
2:00 PM
Riverside Cemetery
715 South Penn
Mangum , Ok 73554
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