Lera Joyce Baldridge Riggs Ansley, 88, of Wichita Falls passed away Tuesday, November 1, 2011. Funeral Services will be held at 2:30 PM Friday, November 4, 2011 at First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls with Dr. Paul Goodrich officiating. Entombment will follow in Crestview Memorial Park Mausoleum. No formal visitation is scheduled.
Mrs. Ansley was born December 18, 1922 in Hillsboro, TX to the late William Vaughn and Vivian Christi (Dollar) Baldridge. She married James Frank (Jim) Riggs in 1940 in Wichita Falls and he preceded her in death on November 4, 1960. She later married Lem Thurmond Ansley in 1963 and he also preceded her in death on March 7, 1984. Mrs. Ansley resided in Wichita Falls since 1945 and was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church and was a member of the Dorcas Class. She was also a member of the Women's Forum, Maskat Shrine Temple Daughters of the Nile, serving as Captain of the Patrol and the PTA of Crockett School. She was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys and George Strait. She was co-owner and operator of Ansley Appliance and the Lamplighter.
Survivors include her children, Linda DeArmond and husband, James of Possum Kingdom Lake, Carol Stewart and husband, Bill of Arlington, TX, Shelli Skinner of Comanche, OK and Will Ansley of Frisco, TX; sister, Sue Spradling and husband, Richard of Ft. Worth, TX; sisters-in-law, Doris Evans of Spring, TX and Frances Riggs of Troup, TX; grandchildren, Dennis DeArmond, Darice Wilkins, Deedee Grider, Susan Patterson, Robert Stewart, Sheryl Stewart, Kristi Liles, Amanda Fox, Melissa Skinner, William Matthew Ansley and Emily Mae Ansley; great grandchildren, Justin, Cody, Taylor, Lauren, Jaxon, Lea, Luke, Lance, Christopher, Brayden, Kesley, Makayla, Keegan, David, Jordan, Michael, Henry and Katelyn; nieces, Christi, Sylvia, Sandy and Theresa; nephew, Howard; special friend, Diana DeArmond. Mrs. Ansley was also preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Boose Thompson and a nephew, Larry Evans.
The family would like to thank Doctors Scott Hoyer, Ricky Ho and Cameron Godfrey, her friends and staff at Senior Care and the staff of Hospice for their support and care these many years. The family suggests memorials to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Rd., 76310 or the First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls, 909 10th Street, 76301.