Adah Vee Riggs

Sept. 11, 1907--Aug. 16, 2005

SHENANDOAH, Iowa -- Adah Vee Riggs, 97, formerly of McCook, died Tuesday (Aug. 16, 2005) at Garden View Care Center in Shenandoah, Iowa.

She was born Sept. 11, 1907, in Bassett to Mark and Vera (Gorball) Howard. She grew up in Gordon, where her family moved soon after her birth.

After graduation from Gordon High School, Adah entered the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where she majored in education and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega social sorority. She received her degree in the spring of 1930 and married Edwin Harold Riggs in December. They moved to his hometown, Brewster, in the sand hills, where Adah taught a number of subjects in the high school. She always had a very special fondness for her friends and students from Brewster.

When her husband was drafted during World War II, Adah and her children went to live with her parents in Sidney, and, after the War, the family settled in McCook. Adah worked part-time as a bookkeeper for Jewell Wholesale Company before returning to her teaching career in 1955. She taught fifth grade at East Ward; English and Math at McCook Junior High; and high school typing at McCook Junior College.

After her retirement from teaching in 1974, Adah was very active in the community. She served as a Lay Reader at St. Alban's Episcopal Church as well as being active in Altar Guild and St. Anne's Guild. She worked at the pantry until she was in her nineties. She was also active in AAUW, Tri-T, Retired Teachers Association and Eastern Star. She especially enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing and crocheting. She played bridge with several groups as well as pinochle and dominoes.

Adah enjoyed living at Willow Ridge for the last ten years she was in McCook, but in January, 2003, she moved to Garden View Care Center in Shenandoah, Iowa, to be near her daughter.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her sister, Audrey Thomas.

Survivors include her children and spouses: Ed Riggs and Pat Mackie of Boise, Idaho; Jim and E. Vee Myrberg of Shenandoah, Iowa; and Don and Laurie Riggs of Houston, Texas. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and her older brother Don Howard of Ft. Collins, Colo.

Memorial services will be held at a future date with interment at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell.

Her family suggests memorials in remembrance of Adah to St. Alban's Episcopal Church, the McCook Library Foundation or the McCook Education Foundation.

Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah is in charge of arrangements, and remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.hackettlivingstonfuneralhome.com.