Obituary for Mike Riggs

Mike Riggs

January 25, 1940 – April 2, 2017

Michael “Mike” Vaughn Riggs, age 77 of Blackwell, Oklahoma formerly from Ponca City, Oklahoma went to be with the Lord to receive his reward on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at the Integris Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday April 7, 2017 at the House of Prayer in Blackwell, Oklahoma with the Pastor John Jack officiating. Burial will follow in the Resthaven Cemetery under the directions of the Grace Memorial Chapel in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Mike V. Riggs was born January 25, 1940 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Vernon Vaughn and Anna Nebraska (Cloninger) Riggs. He grew up in Douglas, Oklahoma and graduated from Jet High School in Jet, Oklahoma in 1958. He was married to Betty J. McVicker and they had three daughters. Mike worked at Douglas Co-Op Elevator, then went to work at Enid Sanitation. In 1964, they moved to California where he went to become a butcher for Safeway, where he worked for 20 years.

On April 11, 1985 he married Hazel O. Hutson, and where they owned and operated Pioneer Sanitation. He was co-founder of The Mission in Ponca City. He founded Brother Mike’s Gospel Jubiliee in Ponca City and ran it for over 18 years. He drove for Cherokee Stripe Transit.

On August 4, 2014, he married Pauline Kelley in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. They moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma, in January 2015. He was a member of the House of Prayer in Blackwell, where he taught adult Sunday school. Mike also was involved with Senior Citizens delivering Meals on Wheels.

Music was a big part of his life. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping and most of all spending time with his family and friends sharing God’s word.

Survivors include his wife Pauline of the home, 5 children, Gary (June) Jackson of Ponca City, Larry (Doris) Hutson of Ponca City, Junell (JR) Frazier of Bristow, Oklahoma, Sherry Riggs (Kelly) of Enid, Oklahoma, Verna LeClair of Ponca City, Ricky LeClair of Garber, Oklahoma.One brother, Aaron Don (Ethel) Riggs of Ponca City, two sisters, Martha Cain of Ponca City, and Rosalee, (William) Drew of Stillwater, Oklahoma., 23 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, late wife Hazel, one daughter Cheryl Cramer, one grandson Christopher Daniels, one great grandson, two sisters and two brothers.

Casketbearers are Chessie Tarkington, Michael Morris, Ashley Wigley, Larry Hutson Jr, Holly Butzbach, Cannon Hutson, Becky Waibel and Larry Butzbach.

Honorary Casketbearer is Ronnie LeClair.

Visitation hours will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, April 5th and 6th, 2017 at the Grace Memorial Chapel. You may leave online condolences at www.gracememorialchapel.net.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blackwell Nutrition Center in care of Grace Memorial Chapel.