Obituary for Kristy "NeeNee" Riddell
Kristy “NeeNee” Riddell, age 55, passed from this life on Monday, April 1, 2019.
Memorial services will be at 2 PM on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at the Tell Southside Baptist Church with Ronnie Shoffner officiating.
Kristy was born on October 9, 1963 in Amarillo, Texas to James Gaylean and Charlotte Ann (Carroll) Riddell. As a young girl growing up in Cee Vee, Kristy was a daddy’s girl. Her nickname as a child was “Buffy” because of her beautiful blonde pigtails. The family remained in Cee Vee until 1974 when they moved to Childress.
Once in Childress Kristy realized she was born to be a Bobcat cheerleader and was one from junior high all the way through to her high school days. Her oldest granddaughter, Rileigh, just recently began to carry on Kristy’s cheerleading legacy by making the cheerleading squad at her school. She graduated from Childress High School in 1982, and many remember her as being the proud owner of a replica of “The Bandit” TransAm from the Smokey and the Bandit movie.
In 1986 Kristy obtained her barber license in Amarillo, a job that she loved. A few short years later, Kristy began the greatest adventure in her life when she gave birth to Ashley in 1989. She was a loving and giving person, and everyone always commented on how pretty she was and how much they loved her and her smile! An animal lover through and through, she not only loved her own animals as her family but she even carried treats for the dogs on her mail route. A hard worker, Kristy loved her mail route, especially since it had begun as her father’s mail route, then her mother’s before it became hers.
Kristy also loved to work in her yard and planting and caring for flowers. She loved Colorado and all the beautiful scenery there, often saying how much she wanted to be there. She also loved to show kindness to other people in any way she could.
More recently, Kristy endured and survived a very difficult heart surgery, which she faced with dignity, courage and strength. She healed faster than anyone could have expected, and came out of it healthier and happier than she had ever been. Over the last six months, the mother and daughter relationship between Kristy and Ashley had gotten stronger than ever, and it was shared from a group of friends that had visited with her on the Saturday evening just before her death that happy tears were shed when Kristy talked about how much she loved Ashley and her grandbabies and how very proud she was of them all. She was one amazing “Momma” an even better “NeeNee” & she will be missed by all who knew her, her smile and her generosity. She endured many things in life, and she came out bent but not broken.
Kristy was preceded in death by her father James Gaylean Riddell, and a niece Jordan Riddell.
Survivors include her mother, Charlotte Riddell of Childress; one brother, Rusty Riddell and his wife, Debra of Amarillo; one daughter, Ashley Garza and her husband, Joseph; four grandchildren, Rileigh Foster, Tristan Garza, Karsyn Garza and Paizlee Garza; niece and nephew, Molly Riddell and Payton Riddell; and numerous extended family and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Memorial services will be at 2 PM on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at the Tell Southside Baptist Church with Ronnie Shoffner officiating.
Kristy was born on October 9, 1963 in Amarillo, Texas to James Gaylean and Charlotte Ann (Carroll) Riddell. As a young girl growing up in Cee Vee, Kristy was a daddy’s girl. Her nickname as a child was “Buffy” because of her beautiful blonde pigtails. The family remained in Cee Vee until 1974 when they moved to Childress.
Once in Childress Kristy realized she was born to be a Bobcat cheerleader and was one from junior high all the way through to her high school days. Her oldest granddaughter, Rileigh, just recently began to carry on Kristy’s cheerleading legacy by making the cheerleading squad at her school. She graduated from Childress High School in 1982, and many remember her as being the proud owner of a replica of “The Bandit” TransAm from the Smokey and the Bandit movie.
In 1986 Kristy obtained her barber license in Amarillo, a job that she loved. A few short years later, Kristy began the greatest adventure in her life when she gave birth to Ashley in 1989. She was a loving and giving person, and everyone always commented on how pretty she was and how much they loved her and her smile! An animal lover through and through, she not only loved her own animals as her family but she even carried treats for the dogs on her mail route. A hard worker, Kristy loved her mail route, especially since it had begun as her father’s mail route, then her mother’s before it became hers.
Kristy also loved to work in her yard and planting and caring for flowers. She loved Colorado and all the beautiful scenery there, often saying how much she wanted to be there. She also loved to show kindness to other people in any way she could.
More recently, Kristy endured and survived a very difficult heart surgery, which she faced with dignity, courage and strength. She healed faster than anyone could have expected, and came out of it healthier and happier than she had ever been. Over the last six months, the mother and daughter relationship between Kristy and Ashley had gotten stronger than ever, and it was shared from a group of friends that had visited with her on the Saturday evening just before her death that happy tears were shed when Kristy talked about how much she loved Ashley and her grandbabies and how very proud she was of them all. She was one amazing “Momma” an even better “NeeNee” & she will be missed by all who knew her, her smile and her generosity. She endured many things in life, and she came out bent but not broken.
Kristy was preceded in death by her father James Gaylean Riddell, and a niece Jordan Riddell.
Survivors include her mother, Charlotte Riddell of Childress; one brother, Rusty Riddell and his wife, Debra of Amarillo; one daughter, Ashley Garza and her husband, Joseph; four grandchildren, Rileigh Foster, Tristan Garza, Karsyn Garza and Paizlee Garza; niece and nephew, Molly Riddell and Payton Riddell; and numerous extended family and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.