Mary Elizabeth Riddle, daughter of Fred Richard and Mattie Della (Harrison) Coombes was born April 6, 1917 in the East Peavine community near Stilwell and went to be with her Lord and Saviour on March 17, 2012 in Stilwell, Oklahoma at the age of 94 years, 11 months and 11 days.
She was married to Roy Lee Riddle on December 1, 1945, shortly after he was released from P.O.W. camp in the Philippines. To this union were born two daughters, Mattie Lee who was Stillborn, and then Gloria Faye. They were married for 46 years until his death in 1991.
When Mary or “Lit” as she was known to some was 16 years old she was saved during a meeting at the East Peavine Schoolhouse in the summer of 1933 and was then baptized in Blue Spring on Peavine Creek. She faithfully served her Lord along beside her husband.
They attended the Peavine Holiness Mission and served on its behalf as long as they were able to attend.
Mary was a homemaker who lovingly cared for her husband and daughter and others in the family as well. She loved her beautiful flowers and garden and the grandkids have many fond memories of helping her pick blackberries and huckleberries along with picking polk and watercress and then watching her can and make jelly. The great grandkids will always remember their visits with “Granny Riddle”. She always had a package of Ritz crackers on her bed and would make sure they got some and whatever else she had for them before they left. Their visits were the highlights of her days. Mary also loved to make quilt tops and do embroidery work, along with reading and watching the birds.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and 1 daughter-Mattie Lee Riddle; 2 sisters; Gladys Marie Coombes and Della Thompson and husband, Frank; 4 brothers-Doyle Sebeatus Coombes and wife Ruby, Robert Richard Coombes and wife Rachel, George Glenn Coombes and wife Iva, and Herbert Felix Coombes.
She is survived by her daughter, Gloria Atchison and husband Eddy; 1 granddaughter Dianne Burrows and her special friend Robert Hall; 1 grandson Eddy Dewayne Atchison and wife Toni, 4 great grandchildren- Johrdan Smith, Eddy William Lee Atchison, Courtney Burrows, and Blake Burrows 1 brother; Curtis Coombes and wife Betty all of Stilwell, OK. 1 sister in law; Hazel Owens of Edmond, Oklahoma, several nieces, nephews; other relatives and many friends of the family also survive her.
Funeral services were held, Wednesday, March 21, 2012 in the ROberts/Reed-Culver Funeral Chapelwith Bro. Glen Hopkins officiating. Interment followed in the Stilwell City Cemetery.
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