Dewey County Obituary
Mound Cemetery

Nelle Carroll Rigg-Mengers

Born: August 06, 1910 - Died: October 11, 2009

© Fairview Funeral Home
Date unknown
Reprinted with permission
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Funeral Services for Nelle (Carroll) Rigg Mengers, 99 of Fairview, will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at the Fairview United Methodist Church in Fairview, Oklahoma. The Reverend Rich Redinger will officiate. Private internment will be at a later date at the Mounds Cemetery in Taloga, OK. Arrangements are by Fairview Funeral Home, Inc.

Nelle Carroll Rigg-Mengers was born August 6, 1910, in Ada, OK to Hugh Allen & Nelle (Smith) Carroll and died October 11,2009 in Fairview, OK.

Attending schools in Lawton, Walters and Oklahoma City, Nelle graduated from Sunset High School in Oakcliff, TX. She attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha and Oklahoma University in Norman where she was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority. On May 2, 1930 Nelle married William (Bill) Arthur Rigg, of Taloga, OK. Their first home was in Dacoma, OK where Bill was the Pharmacist at the Rigg’s Drug Store. Bill preceded her in death in March 1971. In October 1975, Nelle married Walter Fred Mengers. Fred preceded her in death in 1980. During the 1950's, Nelle was an active alumni of Alpha Phi Sorority and was instrumental in the building of the present Chapter house on the OU campus in Norman. A homemaker and onetime employee of Hyde Drug, Nelle was always thinking of someone else and their needs. Even in her last years, as an active Lifetime Deaconess of First Christian Church in OKC, she found her niche in calling on the “old people” (her words) of the church who were in nursing homes.

Nelle was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood for over 70 years, Chapter BS, Fairview and Chapter DD, Oklahoma City. She was "MaMa" to her adoring grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren - they were the light of her life. Nelle loved to travel and was always ready to go at the drop of a hat. She made three "Cruise to Lose" cruises with Richard Simmons just because she liked Richard. On her 90th birthday she was asked if she wanted a party. She responded saying she would rather go on a Mediterranean. cruise, which she did. Every summer she joined the two week family sojourn to the Wilkinson cabin in South Fork, Colorado always insisting that they go back to Oklahoma by way of Santa Fe for a couple of days. After residing in Oklahoma City for over 60 years, Nelle moved to an apartment in Fairview to be closer to her daughter, Mary.

Nelle is survivored by one son, William Carroll Rigg and his wife Carolyn, of Tyler, TX; one daughter Mary, and her husband James A. Wilkinson of Fairview, OK; and step-children, Randall Mengers of Oklahoma City and Jerilyn Adams, Arlington, TX; six grandchildren, Jamee Nelle and husband Brian Goldstein, Enid, OK; Sherry Linn and husband Jim Shaw, Jacksonville, FL, James Scott and wife Kim, Hot Springs, AR, Catherine Joan and husband Mark Swadener, Tulsa, OK, Carroll Ann and husband Robert (Bret) Yoder, Granger, IN, Cheryl Sue Russell of Oklahoma City, OK; Sixteen great grandchildren; Jamee's children, Kevin and his wife Heather, Brian and his wife, LeeAna; Sherry's children, Ryan and his wife, Kelley, Rachel and Derek, and stepson Austin; Scott's children, Angela and Sarah; Cheryl's children, Kimberly, Matthew and his wife Jennifer; Cathy's children, Mark, Jr. and his wife LaShawn, Hilary and Patrick; Carroll Ann’s children, Brandon and his wife Lisa, Ashley and Paul; eleven great great grandchildren; Kevin’s daughter Katelyn; Brian’s daughters, Isabella and Gabriella Nelle; Matthew’s children,Teagan and Brinlee; Kimberly’s children Zyler, Zander and Kole; Mark Jr’s children Cade and Kenlea, and Ashley’s daughter, Taylor Ann.

She was preceded in death by her husbands Bill Rigg and Fred Mengers, her parents, an infant brother, Hugh, her sister, Carolyn (Carrie) Washington, and special friend John Shaklee.

Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church of Oklahoma City, OK or to the First United Methodist Church in Fairview, OK with the Fairview Funeral Home, Inc. serving as custodian.